Malachite

Name: Malachite
SKU: 33578-PT
Availability: InStock

33578-PT Category: Africa (South Africa, Congo, et al.) - Various Species and Localities

Mindingi Mine, Kambove Terr. Haut-Katanga

Democratic Republic of Congo

Dimensions: 9.0x5.5x3.2 cm

Price: CA

$85.00

This is a fine-quality malachite specimen from the lesser-known Mindingi Mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The piece features a vug filled with highly lustrous, sharp, emerald-green platy to bladed malachite crystals. Unlike the more common dull, acicular, or fibrous malachite formations from this locality, this specimen exhibits an exceptionally glossy, well-defined crystal structure—an impressive rarity for the mine. The Mindingi Mine, located 5 km east of Swambo, was an open-pit copper mine worked during the 1930s and 1940s, though the deposit was never fully exploited. The mine is also notable for producing the first well-documented specimens of cobaltoan calcite. This exceptional malachite piece is a must-have for collectors of copper minerals, secondary ore minerals, or fine specimens from the Congo.

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This specimen comes from the collection of Dr. Peter Tarassoff, a prominent figure in mineralogy, particularly known for his work at Mont Saint-Hilaire (MSH). His diligent collecting and examination efforts have led him to be the first to identify at least 35 species and discover 12 new species, not only at MSH but also at other alkaline localities. Dubbed the "Dean" of Mont Saint-Hilaire collectors, Peter was honoured with the naming of the new species petarasite in 1980. He has authored or co-authored numerous mineralogical articles and has been a member of the Mineralogical Association of Canada since 1964. Additionally, Peter has volunteered at the Redpath Museum for the past 21 years, where he was formally appointed the Honorary Curator of Mineralogy. In recognition of his significant contributions to mineralogy, Peter was awarded the 2017 Pinch Medal

Note: All prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD). International customers are charged in CAD, exchange rate is calculated automatically by your bank/paypal upon checkout.

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