Dioptase with Wulfenite

Although the lead molybdate Wulfenite is common throughout the Tsumeb orebody, its occurrence with Dioptase in the Third Oxidation zone was a one off, and such specimens are now seldom encountered.  The Wulfenite is characteristically an acidic chromate-yellow and on this large miniature forms at least nine crystallised occurrences, either as individual crystals or crystal clusters; the largest crystal is 5 mm wide and the largest cluster 1.2 cm wide.  The Wulfenite nestles amongst a rich coverage of emerald-green Dioptase and snow-white Calcite crystals lining a 6 x 4 cm oval cavity in a typical light grey Dolomite.  The Dioptase forms equant translucent crystals averaging 4 to 9 mm wide.  A splendid specimen with the aesthetic and rare association of Wulfenite on Dioptase from the Tsumeb mine in Namibia and ex. the Dr Josef Clemente Collection of southern Germany.