Mawbyite with Wulfenite

A fine and rare example of crystallised Mawbyite from the Tsumeb mine in Namibia, a species very seldom encountered from this famous locality.  For many years, such crystals from Tsumeb were mistakenly thought to be a red variety of Tsumcorite which always occurred with squat, quite blocky tabular crystals of mustard-yellow Wulfenite, as are present on this large thumbnail.  It was always labelled “Red Tsumcorite with Wulfenite”.  Hundreds of carmine red micro-bladed Mawbyite crystals cover the surface of this small specimen.  Mawbyite was first found in the Kintore Open Cut at Broken Hill, Australia and is a dimorph of Carminite.  Mawbyite specimens very rarely come to the mineral market and this is a rich and nicely crystallised example with the characteristic association of Wulfenite.