Alamosite with Kegelite (type locality) and Melanotekite - image 1

Alamosite with Kegelite (type locality) and Melanotekite - image 2

Alamosite with Kegelite (type locality) and Melanotekite - image 3

Alamosite with Kegelite (type locality) and Melanotekite

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One of the most ultimate of crystallized Tsumeb rarities is an alamosite, let alone in association with other minerals on a beautiful combo piece. What a fabulous piece both in hand sample and under the microscope! At the top of this specimen sits a large and impressive, creamy gray Alamosite crystal that 2.0 x 1.8 x 0.3cm in size that displays a good adamantine luster. This large Alamosite is smooth to very lightly striated and has jagged ends or terminations (and a small bit of this is likely damage, but it is visible only on close examination). The remainder of the piece scintillates with a combination of Melanotekite spheres, Kegelite rosettes and Alamosite blades! This piece will knock your socks off under the scope or with a loupe. Other than the obvious and large Alamosite crystal, the remainder of the piece consists of gray-white, randomly oriented, 1mm to 1cm Alamosite blades that formed early in the paragenetic sequence followed by tiny, <0.5mm, white, pearly rosettes of Kegelite followed by brown-black, <0.6mm spherules of glistening Melanotekite. With respect to their mineral chemistry, Alamosite is a relatively simple but rare lead silicate; Kegelite is a complex lead aluminum silicate-sulfate-carbonate with hydroxyl; and Melanotekite is a lead ferric iron silicate. Killer for all three species! Tsumeb is the type locality for Kegelite. I showed this to Mark Feinglos, who confirmed it was not only one of the richest confirmed kegelites in existence (confirmed by XRD as well) but one of the most beautiful as well. A rare species prize from the Flynn Collection.