Dolomite with Duftite

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Deep apple-green micro-crystals of Duftite are richly dusted across the surface of an off-creamy-white Dolomite from the Tsumeb mine in Namibia. The Dolomite forms a hollow cast structure and is composed of thousands of micro-rhombohedral crystals, giving a lustrous granular texture. These form epimorphs after hexagonal crystals of Tarnowitzite, the lead-rich variety of Aragonite, each about 2 to 2.5 cm diameter. Duftite, a copper-lead arsenate, forms glassy micro-crystals of sub-0.5 mm which cluster to form spheres of around 1 mm diameter. Both the Dolomite and Duftite crystals have a highly reflective glassy lustre and complement each other when viewed under low magnification, say x5. This is a fascinating specimen for either display or micro-study and an excellent example of how Dolomite often formed epimorphs in the evolving karst environment of the Tsumeb orebody. This cabinet specimen is accompanied with one previous owner's label and a dealer's label.