Cornetite with Chrysocolla and Malachite, L’Etoile du Congo M., Katanga DRC
Cornetite is a rare secondary copper phosphate, and the L'Etoile du Congo (“Star of the Congo”) Mine is the type locality. The mine is now closed, and specimens from the type locality rarely come to market. This astounding specimen presents a surface of “nobbly” midnight-to-cerulean-blue botryoidal cornetite over sublime, electric-blue, gel-like banded chrysocolla interlayered with malachite and/or pseudomalachite. The side views capture a violent diagenesis, with the bands of gel chrysocolla and sublime malachite-encrusted cavities flowing through and around remnant brecciated fragments of nicely contrasting light tan host rock. The geometries, textures, colors, and habits are just amazing, not to mention jaw-dropping gorgeous.
