New Finds From Mapimi: Rosasite from a January 2010 Pocket

New Finds From Mapimi:
Rosasite from a January 2010 Pocket

Since about 2007, Ojuela has once more returned to the front of our minds for Mexican mineral specimens, after a nearly 20 year span of intermittent, small production. So many beautiful minerals have come, one after another, in the recent resurgence in specimen production from this famous old mine (Wulfenite, Mimetite, Fluorite, Blue Calcite, pockets of one after the other come and go). Who knows how long this series of "glory hole " pockets will last? The last time we saw so much out of here, was in the 1970s- early 1980s, and then it dropped to nearly nothing for 20 years. And, the material was different (Legrandite and other rarities, Adamites and hemimorphites then being prominent; and yet almost nonexistent in the levels being mined now). What came out then is , simply, not what is coming now. So, my bet is on buying as much good Ojuela material as I can NOW, when it is relatively cheap. I have been trying very hard to highgrade select specimens in all price ranges, and offer on this site a good selection of the top tier of Ojuela production for each of the major finds of the last few years. Surprisingly, most of the production is really just wholesale level quality and the truly finer specimens are still not as common as you'd think. For the color and quality of rosasite in particular, Ojuela now offers some of the best and richest examples of the species at "relative" bargain prices compared to rosasite from Tsumeb or other locales. Here are 20 specimens from a pocket found in January of 2010.

US$ € EURO ¥ YEN £ POUND CAN$ AUS$
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OJUELAROSA-23 - Rosasite - £ 255
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
cabinet, 11.8 x 5.4 x 4.2 cm

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Emplaced on a limonite matrix, is an undulating mass of velvety botryoids of intensely colored, blue-green rosasite, to 2.5 cm across. A few sparkling, glassy and gemmy ,colorless, calcite rhombs, to 5mm across are a nice accent on the upper portion of the specimen. Overall a very rich, large, showy rosasite specimen!

OJUELAROSA-18 - Rosasite - £ 894
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
cabinet, 17.3 x 6.8 x 5.5 cm

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A long, extended piece! Resembling a ski slope, or a glacier, this undulating, velvety, intensely colored blue-green mass of botryoids is nestled in a valley of brecciated and vuggy limonite matrix. Sparkling, glassy and gemmy colorless calcite rhombs, to 7mm across are scattered on the rosasite or in vugs. Outstanding and compelling big piece!

OJUELAROSA-17 - Rosasite - £ 479
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
cabinet, 15.4 x 8.4 x 7.8 cm

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A sculpturally pleasing, undulating, velvety, carpet of botryoidal, intensely colored blue-green rosasite has almost totally smothered its host limonite matrix and it looks alive and as if it is flowing into the central crevasse. The rosasite shows interesting color variegation. The valley lows in the middle are covered in clusters of sparkling, glassy and gemmy, calcite rhombs, to 7mm across. A compelling specimen!

OJUELAROSA-14 - Rosasite with Calcite - £ 479
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
small cabinet, 9.8 x 7.8 x 4.8 cm

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An extremely thick and dense, heavy carpet of undulating, velvety, intensely-colored, blue-green rosasite smothers this 3-dimensional knoll of matrix underneath. It is a large and showy specimen. The rosasite is accented by glassy and gemmy, colorless calcite rhombs, to 5mm across scattered about. Rosasite is , overall, a fairly rare species and this is a large and beautiful example with good aesthetics.

OJUELAROSA-13 - Rosasite - £ 575
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
cabinet, 11.5 x 8 x 3.8 cm

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I am particularly fond of the way the undulating,velvety, botryoids of intensely blue-green rosasite, to 2.0 cm across, have swirled about as if about to encircle the underlying limonite matrix. The lower knobs are covered by rosasite, thus when viewing the specimen from above , they look glacier-like as they creep across. Rosasite is , overall, a fairly rare species and this is a large and beautiful example with good aesthetics.

OJUELAROSA-12 - Rosasite - £ 798
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
cabinet, 11 x 9 x 5 cm

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This unusual and 3-dimensional matrix specimen has undulating, velvety, botryoids of intensely colored, blue-green rosasite, to 3.5 cm across , mostly nestled in a vug of limonite but spilling up and over the edges as well. It is in SUPERB condition, with no damage to this large display face! The higher knobs of rosasite are accented by secondary growths of rich green malachite, in small towers composed of microcrystals (Malachite being rare for this mine). Also, there is the occasional glassy and gemmy, colorless calcite rhomb, to 2mm across. Overall a very large and showy display-quality specimen AND a fine example of rosasite

OJUELAROSA-10 - Rosasite with Calcite - £ 479
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
small cabinet, 6.6 x 6.2 x 2.5 cm

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This gorgeous, sparklin gplate hosts a rolling carpet of intense blue rosasite upon which are sparkling, glassy and gemmy, colorless, calcite crystals, to 6 or 7 mm across. Many calcites are actually included by rosasite, it seems. The color and texture contrast between the limonite and the rosasite, and to the sparkling lustre of the calcite, is vivid and mesmerizing. It really is "different." This piece is also admittedly priced at a premium for the result of this color and lustre combination - really a uniquely sparkly style of Ojuela rosasite specimen, overall (and just a few such were in the pocket). Additionally, there is a single, tabular, white barite crystal perched on the calcite measuring 5mm across. At first glance, this LOOKS like an aurichalcite-included calcite from Bisbee !

OJUELAROSA-09 - Rosasite - £ 383
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
small cabinet, 6.2 x 6.1 x 2.4 cm

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A very thick, velvety carpet of rosasite is draped aesthetically over a boxwork, limonite matrix. The rosasite is composed of undulating, velvety, botryoids of intensely colored blue-green rosasite. I am fascinated by the holes that appear on the surface, as if the rosasite bubbled up like geysers in some of the areas in Yellowstone National Park. A few glassy and gemmy, colorless, calcite rhombs, to 3mm across, are scattered about on the rosasite. Interesting contrasts and high rosasite quality make this a good small cab sized specimen from the new find

OJUELAROSA-08 - Rosasite - £ 479
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
small cabinet, 9.4 x 6.4 x 5.4 cm

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Intergrown, velvety, botryoids of rich blue-green rosasite undulate their way inside the curve of a limonite vug. A few, scattered, glassy and gemmy, colorless calcite crystals, to 2mm across are perched on the rosasite. This is a VERY RICH specimen for this normally rare species, and it forms here a very thick layer (to 1 cm) , almost unheard of for the locale..

OJUELAROSA-07 - Rosasite - £ 383
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
small cabinet, 7.5 x 6.4 x 3.2 cm

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On a boxwork, limonite matrix is a single, huge, velvety, growth of richly colored, blue-green, rosasite - measuring 6 cm across. On the periphery of the rosasite are small clusters of glassy, colorless, calcite crystals to 8mm across as accents. This is a beautiful plate combining size, richness, and quality of color. It is extremely rich for the locale, as with many others here, chosen carefully from amongst several large pockets of mostly lesser quality material

OJUELAROSA-04 - Rosasite - £ 287
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
small cabinet, 8.4 x 5.4 x 3.2 cm

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Much like a glacier between two high peaks, this specimen hosts velvety botryoids of richly colored, blue-green rosasite, undulating their way between high points of the underlying limonite matrix. A lovely, sculptural form with great coverage of this normally rare species

OJUELAROSA-03 - Rosasite - £ 798
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
small cabinet, 8 x 5.8 x 2.4 cm

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Historically, rosasite, an uncommon copper-zinc carbonate, reaches its zenith at Tsumeb. This speicmen mimics a classic form, of elongated ballshaped aggregates, from Tsumeb. IF this specimen was actually from Tsumeb its value would be significantly higher for the locality premium. Nevertheless, this exquisite matrix specimen is not only beautiful but it is also an important piece for Ojuela, with a discrete, undulating, velvety rosasite cluster to 3.2 cm . It is contrasted in an elegant manner with the limonitic host matrix. On the underside of the specimen is a cluster of sparkling, colorless calcite crystals, to 2mm, and minor malachite. The overall look is very 3-dimensional in person

OJUELAROSA-19 - Rosasite - £ 766 SOLD
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
cabinet, 13.5 x 11 x 9.5 cm

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This is a mountain of undulating, velvety, botryoids of intensely colored blue-green rosasite, very large and 3-dimensional. It is surmounted by clusters of sparkling, glassy and gemmy, colorless calcite rhombs, to 1.0 cm across. Note the interesting color variegation of teh rosasite, fro mwhitish-blue to deep blue, all velvety. A substantial rosasite specimen!

OJUELAROSA-16 - Rosasite - £ 1756 SOLD
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
cabinet, 15 x 9 x 16 cm

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This LARGE museum-sized display piece screams color and displays BOTH styles of rosasite from the find: velvet blankets; and the sparkling rosasite-included calcites of intense blue hue. Many nooks and crannies of the brecciated and vuggy limonite matrix are covered by undulating, velvety botryoids of intensely colored, blue green rosasite, to 2 cm across. In another location on the piece, colorless, sparkling calcite crystals, to 3mm across, cover a large portion of the rosasite. A plain of rosasite , in one place, is directly next to a hanging fall of the beautiful more bright blue calcite, with inclusions. A few, tabular, white barite crystals are also in evidence, reaching 5mm across. The overall effect from the front side is that of a waterfall flowing down a steep cliff face. Unbelievable color, richness, and size ! We regard this as a major Mexicna piece, and one of the most significant in the find.

OJUELAROSA-15 - Rosasite with Calcite - £ 766 SOLD
Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico
small cabinet, 7.2 x 5.4 x 2.4 cm

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A thin carpet of intensely colored, blue-green, botryoidal rosasite is emplaced on both sides of a limonite matrix. Totally covering the rosasite are sparkling, glassy and gemmy, colorless rhombs of calcite, to 6mm across. Many calcites are actually included by rosasite, it seems. The sparkling lustre of the calcite is vivid and mesmerizing. It really is "different" from most others in this pocket or other finds here. Also, such an inclusion is extremely unusual at this mine or any other (most blue in calcites, is aurichalcite). With this specimen, note the unusual multihued blue colors on the display face

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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com

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