Detailed information
Dimensions
31 x 67 x 21
mm
Weight
22 g
Locality
Tsumeb Mine Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region Namibia
Condition
No recorded repairs
Although well-known for Dolomite mineral specimens it is rare that crystal-coated stalactites are seen from Tsumeb mine - most Tsumeb Dolomite being finely crystallized casts and epimorphs after other minerals. That makes this very large miniature-sized group of parallel stalactites particularly nice. The stalactites are coated with small, cream coloured, pearlescent, curved, saddle-shaped rhombic crystals but have a darker orange-brown core with a slight internal tube-like structure. The longest stalactite reaches 6.7 cm in length with others of differing lengths providing a quite aesthetic display which can be viewed from both sides. One of the stalactites on each side is sheered off: one near the base of the specimen, showing the internal form in cross-section; another on the other side higher up, nearer to its tip. On one side the lower section of one stalactite is open, showing a longer display of its internal orange-brown gossanous core. A really fascinating Tsumeb specimen.