Uncommon to begin with, Conichalcite (a calcium-copper arsenate) specimens of this quality are rare from ANY locality, and only came out of a few pockets in Tsumeb. This large thumbnail consists of a white carbonate matrix largely covered by forest-green, 1-2 mm spheroids of Conichalcite. Areas of more discreet crystals allow one to appreciate the excellent contrast in color and form on this piece, which help create a very good aesthetic. Only a handful of great Conichalcite specimens like this were ever recovered and most of them from the great find on the 43 level. A specimen this fine may have been from that find, but I do not know for sure. Many specimens were somehow mislabelled and still turn up as "Hidalgoite", causing some naming confusion. Dr. Erika Pohl-Ströher - 42001.
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