A sculptural miniature specimen of an unusual dolomite pseudomorph after aragonite from Cottonwood Draw. The piece forms a dense, floater of intergrown, pseudohexagonal crystals that preserve the original aragonite habit, now fully replaced by dolomite rhombs. The result is a delicate, corsage-like structure with excellent three-dimensional form. The complete pseudomorphic replacement is especially well expressed, making this a fine and instructive example of mineral transformation.
Cottonwood Draw is a relatively obscure locality located about 40 miles northeast of Roswell, north of the town of Acme. The area is known for producing unusual carbonate mineralization in which original aragonite crystals were later replaced molecule by molecule by dolomite during changing geochemical conditions. Specimens like this are seldom encountered and would make for an excellent addition for collectors of pseudomorphs and classic Southwestern mineral localities.
