Erythrite on Quartz

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The mines surrounding the town of Schneeberg in Saxony, Germany, form some of the richest and most diversely mineralised ground in Europe, having 294 minerals recorded, of which 37 are type locality species. The cobalt arsenate Erythrite is amongst these 37 and is yet another true European classic from this historic locality where mining dates back at least to the late 1400's. A 2 x 1 cm area is tightly packed with vertically standing acicular Erythrite crystals, all about 1 cm tall. These are translucent deep cobalt-red with hints of cobalt-pink and a lustre which varies between glassy and satin. Almost all terminations are fully complete and intact, with just the occasional one which has a little, but very slight, contact damage. The Erythite sits amongst a bed of 1 mm pinkish-red tinted Quartz crystals coating a matrix of off-white cryptocrystalline Quartz. A magnificent Erythrite from its type locality at Schneeberg, complete with a 'Mineralien-Niederlage der Bergakademie, Freiberg' label and ex. the Dr Josef Clemente Collection of southern Germany.