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Lot 8193

Mimetite

4 December 2005, 11:00 PST
Los Angeles

Sold for US$293.75 inc. premium

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Mimetite

El Potosi Mine
Santo Domingo, Santa Eulalia District
Chihuahua, Mexico

The name mimetite is derived from the Greek mimethes meaning "imitator", because of its resemblance to pyromorphite and apatite. It is also chemically related to pyromorphite and vanadinite and identification can be difficult. Its crystallography can aid in identification—mimetite is usually found as a botryoidal crust—or a “a sparkling cauliflower aggregation” . The present specimen originates from what is widely considered to be the finest locality for mimetite in the world. Its texture is granular and its “sugar-coated” globular yellow crystals rest on a brown matrix, Measuring 4 x 2 ½ x 2 in.

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