Cobaltoan Dolomite with Kolwezite

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A very pretty and colourful miniature to large miniature specimen from the little known Kansalawile mine in the Tenke-Fungurume area, Lualaba, DR Congo. The matrix is beige coloured Dolomite which on the upper crystallized surface shifts in chemistry to a vivid neon-pink coloured cobalt-bearing variety known as Cobaltoan Dolomite. The transition, or shift, can be seen clearly along the edges of the specimen where the thin (1 mm) pink outer layer is upon the more pure beige Dolomite underneath. The rhombic Cobaltoan Dolomite crystals reach over 1 cm in length although most are smaller. The lustre of the pink rhombs is a fine silky to pearlescent one, adding to the beauty. Finally, small dark coloured bladed crystals of Kolwezite - an extremely rare copper cobalt carbonate hydroxide - are sparsely scattered upon the surface. A very attractive miniature specimen - if you like the colour pink!