DESCLOIZITE

Super aesthetic miniature of the rare lead-zinc vanadate mineral descloizite. From the now closed Berg Aukas Mine in the Otavi Mountain region of Namibia, by far the world's best locale for the mineral species. There's an abundance of the beautiful, sharp dendritic blades that are sought after with these pieces, and they all have multiple patches of iridescence. The crystals also have a homoepitaxial growth on top that gives a super sparkly look when in direct light. As far as Berg Aukas pieces go, this is an excellent representation of what makes pieces from this locale so highly prized.

More info:

Descloizite from the Berg Aukas deposit occurs within dolomite-hosted vanadium-lead mineralization zones, where it forms as a secondary mineral in oxidized portions of the ore body. The crystals display characteristic dipyramidal habits reaching 2 cm, exhibiting colors ranging from dark red-brown to orange-brown depending on minor element content. Well-formed crystals typically develop in vugs and along fracture surfaces, often associated with calcite and other secondary minerals. The mineral formed through oxidation of primary vanadinite and galena, where mobilized lead and vanadium combined under oxidizing conditions. Variation in crystal morphology and color intensity reflects local changes in fluid chemistry during precipitation, while systematic zonation patterns within individual crystals indicate fluctuating oxidation conditions during growth.