Phosgenite

A spectacular and heavy specimen of cream and light grey translucent Phosgenite crystals richly pervading and encrusting a matrix of massive Phosgenite with a little-intergrown Calcite.  From the Monteponi mine at Iglesias, Sardinia, Italy, a lead-zinc mine which has been worked since 1901 and famous for its world-class Phosgenite specimens.  The largest crystal measures 6.8 x 4.2 x 2.1 cm with a bright metallic-glassy lustre and sinusoidal growth patterns in parallel alignment along the prism faces. The remainder of the specimen is composed of smaller intergrown Phosgenite crystals of similar colour and lustre.  An amazing Phosgenite specimen from the classic Monteponi mine on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia.