Cornetite with Gel Chrysocolla and Malachite, L'Etoile du Congo M., Katanga DRC
RARE, CHOICE, & TYPE LOCALITY!
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 rich, sculptural small cabinet specimen presents stalactitical and reniform masses of banded blue-green, gemmy chrysocolla coated by spherical “knobbly” aggregates of translucent Brunswick-green pseudomalachite, in turn coated by a first-generation layer of electric blue cornetite, yielding to a later stage royal-blue form. 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.
Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 5 cm. Weight: 182 g (6.3 oz ).
