Descloizite - well-crystallized, unusual locale
stock #21.1-282
Olifantsfontein Mine, Olifantsfontein 9 (Annshope), Grootfontein
Otjozondjupa Region,
Namibia
4.7 x 4.1 x 3 CM (miniature)
price: $850
Late Summer 2021
A fine cluster of sharp Descloizite crystals in an esthetic cluster. This is an old specimen, the original yellowed label is for Oulifantsfontaine in South West Africa which is an old, little known locality for Descloizite located about 40 KM from the well-known Berg Aukus. This is the first specimen I have ever seen available from this locality and it is in excellent condition with a good luster. This piece is mounted on a wooden checker (game piece) with a black putty. It can be removed but this is a great old mounting job and a nice historic touch. The crystals look fine from every angle, and are in a nice arrangement much like a castle on a mountain.
Descloizite with minor Calcite
stock #21.1-267
Berg Aukus, Grootfontein District
Otjozondjupa Region,
Namibia
5.5 x 4.7 x 3 CM (cabinet)
price: $600
Early summer 2021
Perfect blades of sharp textbook habit formed in a fine and well-composed specimen. Well beyond the usual quality for the specie. The blades have a scattering of tiny Calcite rhombs that add a nice contrast. The largest crystal is over 3.5 CM and all are quite lustrous with the edges slightly translucent. The color, when backlit, is slightly red-orange but overall this is a golden brown to dark brown. Very close to perfect with no damage visible to naked eye but with good magnification some very very tiny bruises are found. These spots are well under 0.3 mm and not on any of the main crystals, so this is as near to perfect as this delicate mineral gets. Every angle of this is esthetic, it can be shown from any side which is unusual. An excellent small cabinet piece from the world's best locale for the specie, Berg Aukus.
Descloizite
stock #AX-9-042
Berg Aukus, Grootfontein District
Otjozondjupa Region,
Namibia
5.8 x 5.1 x 3.3 CM (cabinet)
price: $140
Early summer 2021
Bladed leafy habit Descloizite crystals are clustered in bunches on smaller Descloizites. The Descloizites are mostly a dark brown color but have zones of orange to reddish as well. Fairly lustrous and mostly in good condition, there are a few broken blades that can be seen at some angles which is typical. The price reflects the imperfections but in person the damage is not really distracting. A good value for a well formed group of Descloizite crystals. The famed Berg Aukus Mine was the world's greatest source of this specie.
The find of Iranian Descloizites that are altered to Willemite and Cerussite was huge news in the mineral world. The find was short lived but from it came some incredible things like this. The structure shows typical Descloizite stacked crystals and herringbone patterns that have completely altered to Willemite. The structures are sprinkled with hundreds of tiny yellow-orange gemmy Mimetite crystals. Several faces are also covered with a late generation of Cerussite crystals in a multitude of habits. Nothing like this has ever been found any place else and it seems there are no more. This piece is in fine condition, undamaged and a complete floater. Displays well from most any angle and is really incredible under magnification; this is loaded with outstanding tiny crystals.
Descloizite - stacked crystals
stock #19.1-250
Berg Aukus, Grootfontein District
Otjozondjupa Region,
Namibia
4.7 x 2.2 x 1.6 CM (miniature)
price: $520
new year 2021
Red to brown, lustrous Descloizite crystals arranged in stacked alignments. A classic form and in fantastic condition, these Descloizites are especially bright darker on one side and a less lustrous, more light color on the other. The crystals are translucent, with good back-lighting they glow a warm root-beer hue. On the thin edges the crystals are more red. In excellent condition as seen, this is a really nice esthetic specimen. Berg Aukus is certainly the premier locality for Descloizite, no place else on earth has formed anything close to this fine quality. Far better in person too.
Descloizite -stacked
stock #16.1-635
Berg Aukus, Grootfontein District
Otjozondjupa Region,
Namibia
5.3 x 2.4 x 1.4 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $440
A lustrous, flattened crystal tree or leaf-like structure of oriented Descloizite crystals in super condition. A textbook example of epitaxial arrangement or stacking. The individual crystals are a dark red color in strong light but in normal light they look black to metallic silvery. The crystals are undamaged, some are also transparent. Great form and sparkling luster, these fine Berg Aukus specimens have become rare in this quality. The Descloizites from this closed mine are regarded as the best ever found and are modern classics.
Descloizite
stock #18.1-310
Berg Aukus, Grootfontein District
Otjikoto Region,
Namibia
8.3 x 6 x 4.1 CM (cabinet)
price: $1950
A superb cabinet specimen of Descloizite crystals in two generations. The larger more recent Descloizite rests on a druze of earlier small orange and red crystals. The larger crystals are arranged in fans, stacks and bundles in extraordinary forms. No damage, sharp and very three dimensional. The worlds best Descloisites all came from Berg Aukus, and these were in many exotic habits and complex twins. The mine is gone and there will be no more, good specimens have become highly desirable and scarce. This specimen is certainly top quality for the specie and locale with very unusual structures. Far better in person, a killer display and the crystalography is amazing.
Descloizite -unusual form, iridescent
stock #AX-12-055
Berg Aukus, Grootfontein District
Otjozondjupa Region,
Namibia
5.5 x 4.3 x 2.6 CM (small cabinet/ large miniature)
price: $190
Late Summer 2018
There are many different habits seen in the Descoizites of Berg Aukus, which is certainly the premier locale for this mineral. This specimen has a rounded series of crystal aggregates that present curved faces and a colorful patina. The iridescence is most striking and at first glance this looks like a fine Chalcocite. Undamaged, pristine condition, and crystalized all around, the underside is a hollow cup holding more traditional forms of small bright red Descloizite crystals. We have handled and seen many fine Berg Aukus specimens but this piece is unique in my experience. Ex William Hladysz collection, his catalog notes "very rare habit, unlike any other".
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)