Zunyite

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Although not the Type Locality, Big Bertha mine in western Arizona is certainly one of the most famous occurrences of the rare aluminium silicate chloro-hydroxide species Zunyite in the USA. Although fairly bland in daylight, the Zunyite from Big Bertha comes alive under short wave UV light, with a bright red colour. In daylight, the classic tetrahedral shape of the beige-coloured crystals is well seen, with several standing slightly proud of the white to pale cream coloured matrix. It is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).