Pseudoboleite on Boleite

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Pseudoboleite, or as the name implies 'false' Boleite, is an extremely rare lead copper chloride hydroxide related to Boleite upon which it nearly always forms as epitaxial overgrowths. Most Pseudoboleite occurrences have man-made origins, in industrial slag, and are microcrystals, whilst those at the Type Locality - in Boleo District, Mexico - are slightly more substantial, but never large. This fine large thumbnail specimen from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021) is a cracker. From the Type Locality district it features a single, 8 mm wide, pseudocubic crystal of deep indigo blue Boleite upon which Pseudoboleite epitaxially overgrows. This crystal is extremely fine and shows no sign of falling from the matrix which is a common problem when the matrix is clay-rich.