BRACKEBUSCHITE with Descloizite and Vanadinite

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Brackebuschite is a really unusual secondary mineral species containing lead manganese and vanadium. Discovered in Argentina, in 1880, specimens from the original find at Venus mine remain the best crystallized examples known, but are rarely seen available. This older specimen if not from the original find, must have been found shortly afterwards, as its accompanying German handwritten label looks late 19th century to early 20th century in age. Intriguingly, it records its provenance as Canada Larga, Tuclume, Sierra de Cordoba, the former being nearly 100 miles to the south of Venus mine, but Tuclame is a small settlement 20 miles north of the mine. Small cabinet in size it consists of a compact brown Goethite (Brauneisenerz) gossanous matrix upon which are wedge-shaped resinous dark brown Descloizite crystals lining cavities with more extensive areas of beige coloured finely crystalline Vanadinite. The Brackebuschite is not so easy to spot but should be tiny thin dark brown crystals in cavities. A fascinating historic specimen from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).