Brochantite on Dickite

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This is just an exceptional competitive-level miniature featuring a pair of shapely-formed, large and robust crystals of Brochantite from the Milpillas Mine in Mexico. Brochantite is a relatively common secondary copper sulfate mineral frequently found as pseudomorphs after Malachite or Azurite, however, well-formed crystals like this gorgeous piece are the exception. Although found in a number of pockets and styles at this prolific locality from 2008-2019 or so, this is perhaps the rarest style - with large, 3-dimensional crystals. Most Brochantite was acicular, needlelike. Sharp, well crystalized examples, like this one, are best known from the now closed Milpillas Mine in Mexico. This superb miniature features two, isolated, deep emerald green Brochantite crystals measuring 2 and 1.8 cm in length, respectively. There is also a smaller, more slender crystal that slightly diverges off of the 1.8 cm crystal. A small, 7 mm cluster of tiny crystals is off to the right side of the piece; and then a loner, 4 mm, needle-like crystal off to the lower left. All of the colorful, green Brochantites on this exceptional piece are set on a snow-white, Dickite coated matrix for excellent contrast! This particular style came out about 2013-15 and are now regarded as some of the finest crystals of the species. Ex. Paul Stahl collection - 28944.