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Rosasite from a January 2010 Pocket Since about 2007, Ojuela has once more returned to the front of our minds for Mexican mineral specimens, after a nearly 20 year span of intermittent, small production. So many beautiful minerals have come, one after another, in the recent resurgence in specimen production from this famous old mine (Wulfenite, Mimetite, Fluorite, Blue Calcite, pockets of one after the other come and go). Who knows how long this series of "glory hole " pockets will last? The last time we saw so much out of here, was in the 1970s- early 1980s, and then it dropped to nearly nothing for 20 years. And, the material was different (Legrandite and other rarities, Adamites and hemimorphites then being prominent; and yet almost nonexistent in the levels being mined now). What came out then is , simply, not what is coming now. So, my bet is on buying as much good Ojuela material as I can NOW, when it is relatively cheap. I have been trying very hard to highgrade select specimens in all price ranges, and offer on this site a good selection of the top tier of Ojuela production for each of the major finds of the last few years. Surprisingly, most of the production is really just wholesale level quality and the truly finer specimens are still not as common as you'd think. For the color and quality of rosasite in particular, Ojuela now offers some of the best and richest examples of the species at "relative" bargain prices compared to rosasite from Tsumeb or other locales. Here are 20 specimens from a pocket found in January of 2010.
OJUELAROSA-01 - Rosasite with Calcite - £ 1165 SOLD Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 10.1 x 4.6 x 3.3 cm
Aesthetically nestled in a vug of solid limonite, this is a natural pocket cavity. Protected within is a layer of intense blue rosasite upon which are sparkling, glassy and gemmy, colorless, calcite crystals, to 6 mm across. Many calcites are actually included by rosasite, it seems. A few, tabular, white, 2-3mm barite crystals are scattered on the calcite. The color and texture contrast between the limonite and the rosasite, and to the sparkling lustre of the calcite, is vivid and mesmerizing. It really is "different." This piece is also admittedly priced at a premium for the result of this color and lustre combination - really the most sparkly and visually stunning Ojuela rosasite specimen, overall, that I can recall seeing. Also, such an inclusion is extremely unusual at this mine or any other (most blue in calcites, is aurichalcite).
OJUELAROSA-02 - Rosasite with Calcite - £ 583 SOLD Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 9.1 x 7.4 x 2.4 cm
An undulating, velvety carpet of richly colored, blue-green, rosasite on a matrix of solid limonite. Scattered about on the rosasite are glassy and gemmy, colorless rhombohedra of calcite, to .5 cm across. The specimen has an ethereal beauty about it and is "flowing" in person in a way the photos do not describe very well. Worldwide, rosasite is a rare species and these are rich specimens.
OJUELAROSA-03 - Rosasite - £ 809 Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 8 x 5.8 x 2.4 cm
Historically, rosasite, an uncommon copper-zinc carbonate, reaches its zenith at Tsumeb. This speicmen mimics a classic form, of elongated ballshaped aggregates, from Tsumeb. IF this specimen was actually from Tsumeb its value would be significantly higher for the locality premium. Nevertheless, this exquisite matrix specimen is not only beautiful but it is also an important piece for Ojuela, with a discrete, undulating, velvety rosasite cluster to 3.2 cm . It is contrasted in an elegant manner with the limonitic host matrix. On the underside of the specimen is a cluster of sparkling, colorless calcite crystals, to 2mm, and minor malachite. The overall look is very 3-dimensional in person
OJUELAROSA-04 - Rosasite - £ 291 Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 8.4 x 5.4 x 3.2 cm
Much like a glacier between two high peaks, this specimen hosts velvety botryoids of richly colored, blue-green rosasite, undulating their way between high points of the underlying limonite matrix. A lovely, sculptural form with great coverage of this normally rare species
OJUELAROSA-05 - Rosasite - £ 388 SOLD Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 7.3 x 3.3 x 2.8 cm
Emplaced in a vug of limonite is a single long and continuous intergrown, undulating, velvety, botryoidal growth of richly colored blue-green rosasite. The form and color of the rosasite contrasts beautifully with the underlying solid brown limonite. A rich specimen of this normally rare species, and of high quality for the locale
OJUELAROSA-06 - Rosasite with Calcite - £ 1165 SOLD Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico cabinet, 10 x 6.8 x 6.8 cm
A stunning piece! It is smothered by thick rosasite on all sides but the back. An almost solid base of massive rosasite ultimately leads to a large central mound upon which velvety botryoids of richly colored blue-green rosasite are emplaced ( to 2.0 cm across). The upper half of the specimen is liberally sprinkled with super-glassy and gemmy, colorless rhombohedra of calcite, to 1 cm across. The piece is perhaps the most 3-dimensional in the lot here, and in person is very dramatic and colorful. This is a very imposing and dramatic specimen, significant for the locality and even more, by worldwide standards for this normally rare species.
OJUELAROSA-07 - Rosasite - £ 388 Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 7.5 x 6.4 x 3.2 cm
On a boxwork, limonite matrix is a single, huge, velvety, growth of richly colored, blue-green, rosasite - measuring 6 cm across. On the periphery of the rosasite are small clusters of glassy, colorless, calcite crystals to 8mm across as accents. This is a beautiful plate combining size, richness, and quality of color. It is extremely rich for the locale, as with many others here, chosen carefully from amongst several large pockets of mostly lesser quality material
OJUELAROSA-08 - Rosasite - £ 486 Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 9.4 x 6.4 x 5.4 cm
Intergrown, velvety, botryoids of rich blue-green rosasite undulate their way inside the curve of a limonite vug. A few, scattered, glassy and gemmy, colorless calcite crystals, to 2mm across are perched on the rosasite. This is a VERY RICH specimen for this normally rare species, and it forms here a very thick layer (to 1 cm) , almost unheard of for the locale..
OJUELAROSA-09 - Rosasite - £ 388 Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 6.2 x 6.1 x 2.4 cm
A very thick, velvety carpet of rosasite is draped aesthetically over a boxwork, limonite matrix. The rosasite is composed of undulating, velvety, botryoids of intensely colored blue-green rosasite. I am fascinated by the holes that appear on the surface, as if the rosasite bubbled up like geysers in some of the areas in Yellowstone National Park. A few glassy and gemmy, colorless, calcite rhombs, to 3mm across, are scattered about on the rosasite. Interesting contrasts and high rosasite quality make this a good small cab sized specimen from the new find
OJUELAROSA-10 - Rosasite with Calcite - £ 486 Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 6.6 x 6.2 x 2.5 cm
This gorgeous, sparklin gplate hosts a rolling carpet of intense blue rosasite upon which are sparkling, glassy and gemmy, colorless, calcite crystals, to 6 or 7 mm across. Many calcites are actually included by rosasite, it seems. The color and texture contrast between the limonite and the rosasite, and to the sparkling lustre of the calcite, is vivid and mesmerizing. It really is "different." This piece is also admittedly priced at a premium for the result of this color and lustre combination - really a uniquely sparkly style of Ojuela rosasite specimen, overall (and just a few such were in the pocket). Additionally, there is a single, tabular, white barite crystal perched on the calcite measuring 5mm across. At first glance, this LOOKS like an aurichalcite-included calcite from Bisbee !
OJUELAROSA-11 - Rosasite - £ 291 SOLD Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 9 x 5.8 x 2.8 cm
A series of connected, undulating, velvety, botryoids of intensely colored blue-green rosasite almost cover this extended limonite matrix. The largest botryoid measures 2.25 cm across. Rosasite is , overall, a fairly rare species and this is a large and beautiful example
OJUELAROSA-12 - Rosasite - £ 809 Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico cabinet, 11 x 9 x 5 cm
This unusual and 3-dimensional matrix specimen has undulating, velvety, botryoids of intensely colored, blue-green rosasite, to 3.5 cm across , mostly nestled in a vug of limonite but spilling up and over the edges as well. It is in SUPERB condition, with no damage to this large display face! The higher knobs of rosasite are accented by secondary growths of rich green malachite, in small towers composed of microcrystals (Malachite being rare for this mine). Also, there is the occasional glassy and gemmy, colorless calcite rhomb, to 2mm across. Overall a very large and showy display-quality specimen AND a fine example of rosasite
OJUELAROSA-13 - Rosasite - £ 583 Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico cabinet, 11.5 x 8 x 3.8 cm
I am particularly fond of the way the undulating,velvety, botryoids of intensely blue-green rosasite, to 2.0 cm across, have swirled about as if about to encircle the underlying limonite matrix. The lower knobs are covered by rosasite, thus when viewing the specimen from above , they look glacier-like as they creep across. Rosasite is , overall, a fairly rare species and this is a large and beautiful example with good aesthetics.
OJUELAROSA-14 - Rosasite with Calcite - £ 486 Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 9.8 x 7.8 x 4.8 cm
An extremely thick and dense, heavy carpet of undulating, velvety, intensely-colored, blue-green rosasite smothers this 3-dimensional knoll of matrix underneath. It is a large and showy specimen. The rosasite is accented by glassy and gemmy, colorless calcite rhombs, to 5mm across scattered about. Rosasite is , overall, a fairly rare species and this is a large and beautiful example with good aesthetics.
OJUELAROSA-15 - Rosasite with Calcite - £ 777 SOLD Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico small cabinet, 7.2 x 5.4 x 2.4 cm
A thin carpet of intensely colored, blue-green, botryoidal rosasite is emplaced on both sides of a limonite matrix. Totally covering the rosasite are sparkling, glassy and gemmy, colorless rhombs of calcite, to 6mm across. Many calcites are actually included by rosasite, it seems. The sparkling lustre of the calcite is vivid and mesmerizing. It really is "different" from most others in this pocket or other finds here. Also, such an inclusion is extremely unusual at this mine or any other (most blue in calcites, is aurichalcite). With this specimen, note the unusual multihued blue colors on the display face
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