EXTREMELY FINE CORNETITE . ...

Description

EXTREMELY FINE CORNETITE
Mine de l'Etoile, Shaba Province, Congo (Zaire)
Cornetite is an attractive ore mineral found in a restricted number of Copper deposits around the world. It normally appears as small, sparkling crystals, scattered infrequently about on fracture surfaces. Conditions at Le Mine de l'Etoile; 'the
Mine of the Star', must have been absolutely spot on, because, unlike other deposits where this mineral is found, here it can be obtained in dense layers coating the walls of fissures and cavities. Never prolific even at this occurrence, there is an erratic, small annual production that makes its way to the outside world courtesy of some brave or as some would say; foolish, French speaking traders who occasionally visit Lumbumbashi. Every year they sell out within one day presenting their offerings. Last year, a cavity was discovered in the mine that produced the finest specimen of this mineral known. This is that specimen. Imagine for a moment, a coral head colored a deep teal blue and sparkling with the dust of a thousand crushed diamonds. The reality is that this prize specimen is better than that. It is almost a foot and a half across and besides the teal blue there are light dustings of a contrasting green mineral; probably Malachite but who knows. There are a couple of small areas where the underlying black matrix shows through; otherwise the entire upper surface is covered with Cornetite. The term 'museum specimen' has become somewhat devalued through over usage. It is correctly applied only to those specimens significant enough to warrant inclusion in a world class collection. This is a world class specimen. 17 x 11 ½ x 4 inches.

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