Kolwezite Pseudomorph after Baryte

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A rare and significant specimen of glistening, dark forest green Kolwezite crystals forming substantial pseudomorphs after intergrown Baryte crystals, many measuring to almost 4 cm! A superb specimen of this very seldom seen pseudomorph from one of the Kolwezi mines within the Katanga Copper Crescent of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC is a remarkably big country and this famous mining regions lies to the very south and about mid-way across, north of the border with Zambia. Kolwezite is a hydrated copper-cobalt carbonate whose type locality is the Musonoi mine in Kolwezi, so this specimen could be from this mine, had exact details been recorded. Millimetre size Kolwezite crystals cover the blocky former Baryte crystals, although these are not completely pseudomorphed with areas of Baryte still visible, particularly on the base. Kolwezite is a rare mineral itself, but in this composition pseudomorphing Baryte makes it a super-rare specimen.