Szenicsite with Powellite (Cuprian) - image 1

Szenicsite with Powellite (Cuprian)

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Szenicsite, a copper molybdate mineral was found by our friend Terry Szenics at a small copper mine in 1993 in the Inca de Oro area of Chile’s Atacama Desert. This is a large thumbnail sized example of the rare species szenicsite from Terry Szenics' collection (with duplicate labels!). It has shocking, metallic green color and is a substantial example of this species from the single major pocket found with large crystals. From Alex's notes: This species was discovered in an isolated area, approximately 1 cubic meter in size, wherein the specimens occurred in small cavities in a matrix-rich Mo and Cu-bearing powellite. It was found on one level of the mine for a brief period of a week and...never again. Soon after its discovery the level was backfilled and covered with overburden. While most of the mines in the area are typically copper or copper-gold mines, the Jardinera Mine was totally unique in that it contained a substantial amount of molybdenite laced in the pockets with high-grade copper ore. The molybdenite is the parent mineral that forms two molybdate minerals, szenicsite and powellite. A surprising new molybdate mineral since molybdenum rarely combines with other elements in nature to form mineral compounds. From: Michael Hollonbeck on February 16, 2020, at Mineral City complex (Lester & N. Oracle Rd, Tucson) with label from Terry, and another label obtained from terry later. Szenicsite specimens are scarce and rarely offered in the marketplace. Laszlo Kupi photos.