Paravauxite

This miniature specimen features sharp, bladed crystals of paravauxite, an extremely rare iron and aluminum phosphate, from the type locality. The crystals are abundant and well-formed in the vuggy matrix, with a subtle light blue to white hue. The specimen likely also contains sigloite forms as a tan coloured alteration of paravauxite. The accompanying label notes the presence of wavellite and childrenite, these must be micros in the matrix, but the specimen comes from the collection of Tony Steede, whose specimens are reliably analyzed.

The Llallagua Mine, opened in 1901, is the type locality for Paravauxite. Mark Chance Bandy, in his book Mineralogy of Llallagua, Bolivia, described Paravauxite as the most abundant of all the "Vauxites" from this famous locality. Despite this, "large" specimens like this one are rarely available on the market, normally thumbnails.