International Minerals #21

The specimen shows three intergrown main crystals. Two of them vertical, the third one more at the base horizontal – this one is even double terminated. The crystals are up to 24 mm across. I think you will agree that this is a remarkable dimension of Mimetesite in dimension and color. The crystals faces are highly lustrous. The color is one more uncommon indicator, not just yellow; more intense dark orange. The assemble looks better in person, no significant damages to report. mc 2.4cm

Short locality information: The Emke mine (also known as Onganja mine) is situated on the Voitskopf vein which is continuous with the Maygift vein straddling the border between farms Helen 235 & Klein Onganja 148. Other veins in the immediate vicinity are Omahanga, Kronriff, Feldspatriff, Stanley, Kriegsfeldgang & several alphabetical veins A, B, E, F, G, H, L, N, all the veins are grouped as the Onganja mining area. Mineral specimens of cuprite & native copper came mostly from the Voitskopf-Maygift vein system. When these superb, large cuprite crystals came out in the 1970's, they were instant classics. The mine is already closed, so this material became more and more rare. Many of the specimens from that find had their malachite coatings removed. This particular specimen is still in original state. The exposed main crystal is about 26mm across, sharp terminated and shows great contrast to matrix.

This lustrous and sharp terminated crystal shows various steps of green, a darker area in the middle and a concentration of pink below the end-point. Translucency is very fine, it needs only minor backlight to expose these colors. Three repairs and a few restorations were done professionally.

A glossy greenish octahedron perched on two parallel inter-grown balck tourmaline crystals with green zonings at the end points. The tourumaline crystals are sharp terminated and lustrous. Nice contarst and very aesthetic assemble.