Vauxite, Paravauxite, Metavauxite

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From the find of 2006, this is one of the most significant discoveries ever made at this locality. Not since the days of World War II has there been such a remarkable find of this material. These are some of the largest overall Vauxite specimens in the world, but the greatest aspect of these pieces is two-fold. First, the Vauxite itself is associated with micro fibrous "strands" of the very rare phosphate Metavauxite, plus tabular micro crystals of Paravauxite and small whitish spheres of Wavellite. It is very rare to have four individual phosphate species all on one specimen, and the fact that this mine is the type locality for Vauxite, Paravauxite and Metavauxite makes it all the better. There are also some small Quartz crystals on most of the specimens found as well, which is really a nice accent to these already amazing pieces. The second significant attribute of these specimens is the fact that they formed on a solid Quartz-Diorite porphyry matrix, and not crumbly clay (after Allophane) which means that they are much sturdier. This piece is from the type locality for Vauxite, Paravauxite and Metavauxite which was discovered along the Contacto and San Jose veins in this mine and was first described by Sam Gordon and Mark Bandy. It is very rare to find good size matrix specimens of Vauxite from Bolivia with Paravauxite and Metavauxite.