RAD08-13
Astrocyanite on Kamotoite
Kamoto East Open cut, Kamoto, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire) (TYPE LOCALITY for both species)
Miniature, 5.3 x 3.8 x 3.5 cm
SOLD
From the TYPE LOCALITY for both species, this is a superb display piece with eye-visible flat-laying kamotoite crystals to 5 mm or so, amidst other species including ultra-rare Astrocyanite (blue) with bubbly Uranophane around the periphery. I was told by the previous owner, a geologist specializing in the mines of this region, that so far as he knew under 30 specimens of this species were known. Bill Pinch, who reviewed this update, informed me that while the blue smear-like material is rare enough and quite rich for the species, the denser, darker-green microcrystalline material near the bottom of the piece as shown is actually the best and rarest quality of the species.