Calcite on Mottramite

Unknown Owner

With a combination of rare and common species the juxtaposition seen in this miniature specimen from Tsumeb mine one of the classics for which this most famous of mines is known. Mottramite, a very rare secondary lead copper vanadate species, forms a dark khaki-green finely crystallized matrix hosting a ridge of glassy colourless rhombic Calcite crystals. These Calcite crystals reach up to 1 cm on edge and present 'windows' through which the underlying dark mossy Mottramite can be seen. There are some very minor chips to the corners of some of the Calcite crystals, but generally they are in very good condition.