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  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.
  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.
  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.
  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.
  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.
  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.
  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.
  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.
  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.
  • An exceptional chalcanthite specimen featuring sharp, well-formed crystals in a rich emerald-green color, rather than the typical fibrous blue-green growths. The distinct crystalline formation stands out against any matrix, showcasing a rare post-mining crystallization pattern that differs dramatically from typical chalcanthite specimens.

CHALCANTHITE

Kara-Oba W Deposit, Moiynkum District, Jambyl Region, Kazakhstan
4.9 x 4.8 x 2.9 cm
$800.00
$800.00
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Unlike almost every other natural specimen of chalcanthite you'll find, which typically consist of long fibrous growths, this one is composed of unusually well-formed crystals. This post-mining formation, crystallized after mine flooding in copper-rich workings, exhibits an unusually rich emerald-green coloration reminiscent of dioptase, rather than the traditional blue-green typically associated with the mineral. The specimen's significance is further elevated by its unexpected origin from this predominantly tungsten-producing locality, which is notably absent from Mindat's chalcanthite listings. A highly unusual example that represents a dramatic departure from conventional chalcanthite morphology and color.

 

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The formation of this chalcanthite points to a complex interplay between oxidizing groundwater and primary chalcopyrite, where acidic conditions generated through sulfide breakdown facilitate copper mobilization and subsequent precipitation during evaporation cycles. The preservation of well-formed crystals suggests stable microenvironments within the mine workings, while the periodic nature of fluid movement controls dissolution-precipitation cycles, showing again what makes Kara-Oba an excellent example of anthropogenic mineral formation processes in abandoned sulfide-bearing deposits.