Hemimorphite -exceptional bright blue botryoidal
stock #24.1-145
MFouati Mine, Bouenza Department
Bouenza Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
4.1 x 2.8 x 2.3 CM (miniature)
price: $350
Intense deep blue and with a wet-look luster, this is a very fine Hemimorphite from a recent find at the Mfouati Mine. This locality in the Republic of Congo has in the past 2 years offered a few fine surprises to the mineral world. We understand that nothing new is possible now as the ownership and management have changed there. That said this is a fine Hemimorphite from anyplace and as fine as any we have seen in this size.
Wulfenite on Cerussite
stock #RP 20-FC-059-(9164)
MFouati Mine, Bouenza Department
Bouenza Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
4.8 x 3.8 x 3.4 CM (miniature)
price: $2850
Pre Tucson
The new finds of Wulfenites of M'Fouati have been huge news in the mineral world. The association with Cerussite and the remarkable etching of the blocky habits is unlike any others ever found. This specimen has superb esthetics all around and is in perfect condition. The Wulfenite has intense color with glassy luster on some faces and many geometrically etched patterns on other faces. The Cerussite is complete, undamaged on all sides with just a small contacted area on the underside. These Cerussites are twinned in multiple ways and some are also etched on selective faces. There were not many specimens of this top caliber found, these few killers are instant classics.
Chalcocite - classic habit crystals from new find
stock #23.1-657
M Passa Mine, Mindouli District
Pool Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
7.3 x 6.4 x 2.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $650
Pre Tucson
This specimen is almost all Chalcocite, well-crystalized and with just a little green Copper oxidation giving a nice contrast. The Chalcocite look just like the old classics of Cornwall or Bristol but are from a new find made about 2 years ago in the Congo. All the crystals are in parallel alignment and the condition is excellent as seen. A very choice example from this remarkable discovery.
Veszelyite with Hemimorphite - new find, well-crystalized
stock #22.1-319
Palabanda Quarries, Mfouati, Mfouati District
Bouenza Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
3.5 x 3.2 x 2.8 CM (small miniature/ large thumbnail (toenail))
price: $750
Post Tucson 2022
Well-crystalized and with vivid color, a bright small miniature from the new finds at Palabanda in Mfouati which have been big mineral news. While the individual crystals from this find are not so large as the famed classic find at the Black Pine Mine, the density and overall flash of good pieces like this are highly desirable. This piece shows especially well-defined sharp crystals in a dense cluster that were protected in a vug. Better than the typical material from this important find and an attractive specimen from anyplace, there has not been any new production that we are aware of over the past year or so.
Dioptase
stock #21.1-192
Sanda Hills, Mindouli, Mindouli District
Pool Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
2.4 x 1.4 x .9 CM (thumbnail)
price: $490
New Year 22
A very bright "treelike" Dioptase thumbnail in fine condition. From the recent finds in former Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) which had produced some excellent specimens, some of which, like this one, have unusual yet eye-catching esthetics. In excellent condition, the tiny spray of Dioptase crystals on the display side are all well-terminated and undamaged. The backside has some contacts but still no damage.
Wulfenite, very large crystal coated by Quartz druse.
stock #21.FC-003
MFouati Mine, Bouenza Department
Bouenza Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
4.7 x 3.8 x 2.2 CM (miniature)
price: $2500
Early summer 2021
A really large, sharp, fat Wulfenite crystal which is fully overgrown with a druse of sparkling Quartz crystals. This is from the first (and best) of two such finds at M'Fouti, which made big news in the mineral world. This is a superb example and a remarkable specimen from anyplace. This style and form are not known like this from any place else on earth. The Wulfenite is in perfect condition, it is broken only at the base where it was removed. There is another, perfect smaller crystal growing on one face and the orange to yellow color are more pronounced on one side of the piece, the other side is closer to a clean white hue. There were a very few pieces of this size and quality found, this is among the very best. An outstanding, unusual Wulfenite.
Hydroxylpyromorphite on Cerussite
stock #20-FC-058-(9163)
MFouati Mine, Bouenza Department
Bouenza Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
5.9 x 3.1 x 1.7 CM (cabinet)
price: $2250
Spring 2020
A very fine and unusually esthetic specimen of this new and rare mineral. This is a newly recognized specie (2017) and is the Pyromorphite analogue of Hydroxylapatite (Pyromorphite is of course part of the Apatite family). The well formed Cerussite crystal is a super matrix for the white to greenish crusts of micro crystals and masses. This specimen from the Congo is by far the best looking example I have seen. It is uncommon for new or rare minerals to visible to the naked eye and less often colorful or attractive. It remains to be seen if more will be found at MFouati, it is the first find of the specie in Africa. This mineral was previously noted at three localities in Europe and two in the USA as an "unknown, undescribed" specie. In those localities this has been found only in submillimeter crystals and crusts. A superb example with a rich coverage, a superb addition for a Pyromorphite suite.
Fornacite on Dioptase (Type Locality)
stock #20-FC-115
Reneville Mine, Reneville Kindanba District
Pool Department,
Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
4 x 3.3 x 2.5 CM (miniature)
price: $1600
Spring 2020
Fantasticly rich, dense clusters of Fornacite crystals on Dioptase crystals. Fornacite is a rather rare mineral but nearly always seen just as micros with very small isolated crystals. This is an amazingly rich specimen with eye visible crystals in groups that are up to 2.5 CM across! The matrix is an attractive mix of Dioptase crystals and balls of Plancheite. The crystals are lath shaped and many are free standing, most are a dark olive green ranging to as brownish yellow with backlight. Under strong magnification a few dark green balls are seen that may be Mottramite but are not identified. From the type locality, this is a superb and important piece for this rarely displayed mineral. None of us have ever seen any piece with so much of the specie and so easily seen.
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