DEN14-1417
Adamite Var. Manganoan
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
Miniature, 5.0 x 4.2 x 3.5 cm
SOLD

In 1980 a wonderful find of manganoan adamite was found at Mina Ojuela (initially mislabeled as cobaltian-rich). Good specimens today are exceedingly rare and pricey. This superb sharp miniature features a ROBUST cluster of bicolored, lustrous and translucent, crystals to 2.5 cm in length at the edge of the cluster. The top portion of each crystal exhibits the classic lovely rich lavender color which has made this the single most famous pocket of its species. They are absolutely unique. Later pockets had thinner crystals, or paler color. This is the "correct" pocket. The specimen displays at several angles as a large miniature. I recall when this piece was a cabinet sized specimen and collector Irv Brown made a risky trim back in the late 1990s. This was long in his collection and, I think, was in his 2000 Desautels prize case. It has an unusual contrast of the purple tips to the white crystal bodies, set against the gossan matrix. Joe Budd photos.