Carrollite with Chalcopyrite on Calcite - image 1

Carrollite with Chalcopyrite on Calcite

Unknown Owner
Kamoya South II mine in the Katanga Copper Crescent, Dem. Rep. of Congo, has produced the world's finest crystals of Carrollite, a rare copper cobalt sulphide. Nowhere else has produced anything remotely comparable, they are simply leagues ahead. This fine cabinet-sized specimen of Calcite features several mirror-bright silver, octahedral Carrollite crystals reaching 1.2 cm on edge. There is damage to further Carrollite crystals around the edge of the specimen, but those within the main cavity are excellent, with just one tiny nick to the edge of one of the crystals. The inclusion-rich translucent Calcite crystals provide added interest. Minor Chalcopyrite microcrystals are sparsely scattered upon the surface of the Calcite. A nice rich crystallized Carrollite from the all-time great occurrence.

Product details

Species
Carrollite, Chalcopyrite, CalciteAbout Carrollite →
SizeCabinet
Dimensions12.2 x 9.3 x 5.6 cm
Added on01/24/2025
Locality
DR Congo, Haut-Katanga, Kamoya South II MineRegional guide →

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
01/2025Unknown Owner$500.00
—Crystal ClassicsNot disclosed

Learn more

Mineral guide
Learn about Carrollite
cobalt-rich thiospinel with razor-sharp spinel-octahedral crystals, mirror luster, on contrasting carbonate matrices from the DRC and Bou Azzer.
Carrollite
Regional guide
Carrollite from Kamoya South II Mine, DR Congo
Kamoya South II is the modern benchmark locality for carrollite. Its best specimens have the look that made the species famous among contemporary sulfide collectors: brilliant silver to steel-gray crystals, often mirror-faced, with crisp spinel-family geometry set into pale calcite or dolomitic carbonate. The visual effect is unusually clean for a sulfide—hard, metallic geometry against light matrix—and the finest examples have enough reflectivity that the faces flash like cut metal when turned under a lamp.