Updated 3d ago

Plancheite

$650.00

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Plancheite is a rare and beautiful hydrated copper silicate hydroxide. Although first described from the Republic of Congo during the eariest years of the 20th century, the finest display specimens have come from The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC for short) and Namibia. In the DRC, one of the standout localities for this species is M'sesa mine, an opencast copper mine that closed in the 1970s, but while it was operational it produced magnificent crystallized velvety sprays of Plancheite that are now only seen in older collections. This superb small cabinet display specimen from M'sesa mine comes from the Belgian-based collection of Francis Coune and really is very fine indeed. Its porous matrix provides an surprising lightweight feel for a specimen, but within the cavities the Plancheite crystal sprays are absolutely superb, showing a complex, delicate feathery form under magnification. A really wonderful older M'sesa mine specimen.