Hemimorphite

I have to admit of all the worldwide localities for fine blue Hemimorphite, the Sa Duchessa mine at Oridda on the Italian island of Sardinia is one that has escaped me until now.  This delightful small cabinet specimen is from the Dr Josef Clemente (1899-1987) Collection of southern Germany.  The colour and quality of the Hemimorphite, a zinc sorosilicate, is second to none, and this gently undulating botryoidal plate will certainly catch the eye in any collection.  Alternating layers of vivid turquoise-blue and white hemimorphite build a 7 to 10 mm thick plate, the final display layer being entirely the stunning blue.  Although the first impression is turquoise-blue, close examination implies a pure sky-blue, yet deeper and more vivid than any sky I have seen!  The colour is unchanging, but due to play of light, the contact edges of adjacent botryoidal mounds creates an intricate network of filigree dark lines, adding texture and accent to the specimen.  A beautiful blue Hemimorphite from Sardinia.