Mineral: Sphalerite after Enargite, coated by Smithsonite and with minor Galena and Cuprite
Locality: Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Otjikoto Region, Namibia
Dimensions: 11.1 × 5.6 × 2.7 cm

Description: A morphological, structural and genetic complexity. The original very aerial and stalagmitic Enargite crystals have been entirely pseudomorphed by Sphalerite crystals that in turn have been partially covered by white Smithsonite crystals, as well as small disseminations of Galena and Cuprite. How capricious mineral paragenesis can be! Considering its complexity, the specimen has been analyzed. This specimen comes from the collection of Michel Perraudin who had it wrongly identified, which is no surprise as it is a piece that begged for a very precise analysis, since its visual appearance did not indicate what it finally turned out to be.

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