Phosphophyllite

Unknown Owner

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Phosphophyllite is one of the Holy Grails of mineral collecting. To get a good one, to even see a good one, is almost impossible. To get a LARGE and good one, that has some show value beyond being a killer little crystal, this is uncommon in the extreme! This specimen has a 2-INCH crystal cluster shooting starkly upright from a well-trimmed matrix. The color is phenomenal - the classic, and totally unique blue-green color with high saturation. The crystals are stacked like plates against each other, culminating in a very sharp and totally gemmy-clear termination atop. The crystal cluster seems to have grown in a thin seam, straight up or down as the case may be, and matrix which attached along the front has been carefully removed to leave a series of micro-faces where crystal growth was constrained, but this is not damage. A small bit of contact damage does exist, on the very left side of the cluster. The right side is terminated with outward-pointing faces showing nice patterns of crystallization on their surfaces, and just a slight bit of edge wear atop those side faces. The gemmy, stepped terminations are complete, and stand above the bulk of the cluster to really show off nicely. I have had in my life only 3 major phosphophyllites, and this is perhaps the best "bang for the buck" of them, in terms of owning something large and showy that does not completely break all price horizons (as other phosphophylites might), because I was lucky enough to buy this as a "fixer-upper" in need of a trim and clean. I cannot emphasize enough the uniqueness of the color, or the rarity of getting such a large and showy specimen of this incredibly rare, gem species. Most of them were found in the 1930s and 1940s, with jus ta small trickle turning up despite intensive efforts, in all the years since.

Product details

SpeciesPhosphophyllite

SizeSmall Cabinet

Dimensions6.5 x 6.5 x 2.6 cm

Added on10/23/2024

LocalityBolivia, Potosí, Cerro de Potosí

Known provenance

Date	Collector	Acquisition price
08/2024	Unknown Owner	Not disclosed
—	The Arkenstone	Not disclosed

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Mineral guide

Learn about Phosphophyllite

rare sea-green to mint-blue crystals with glassy luster; fragile (hardness 3.5, perfect cleavage), prized Bolivian specimens and micromounts.

Regional guide