SZENICSITE with Cuprian POWELLITE

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

This museum quality Szenicsite must be one the largest specimens in existence. Not only has this species only been found in good crystals at one place in the world - Jardinera No. 1 mine, in Chile, but most specimens are clustered aggregates of crystals miniature in size. Size does not however equal quality, but in this instance it has both. This dense specimen is 30 to 35 % Szenicsite as coarse platy crystals, both terminated and compact masses. The terminated crystals within cavities, reach up to 1.5 cm on edge, and display the classic vibrant green colour, silky lustre and sectile, scaly texture. The Szenicsite is so rich it cements a few fragments of rock breccia, the breccia often being coated with a layer of greasy, yellow-green Powellite as pointed microcrystals. The richest area of Szenicsite crystals occur in a 4 x 3 cm patch, with perfect, undamaged large terminated crystals. A magnificent Szenicsite. Ex Nick Hawes collection and ex Chester Lemanski collection (no. 19997CL).