SANTA EULALIA MINING DISTRICT, AQUILES SERDÁN MUNICIPALITY, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO

In this unusual and rare example of a Smithsonite pseudomorph after Calcite, an enormous, rich aggregate plate of Calcite crystals has been completely replaced by sparkling layers of Smithsonite that have retained the shape of these sharp “dogtooth” scalenohedrons. Undamaged examples of these peculiar, but amazing pseudomorphs have been difficult to obtain in any decent size in part due to the brittle nature of these “replacement” crystals. I have also read that most of the first specimens actually came from a controlled dynamite blast. So many, if not most of these came out in broken and damaged pieces from these mines, and were either small specimens or had to be trimmed down just to salvage a few unbroken crystals, often resulting in specimens no bigger than a human fist.


12.5 x 8.5 x 6in. (32 x 22 x 15cm.)

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