Tsumcorite

Rare tsumcorite on matrix from the world-famous Tsumeb Mine, Otavi Highlands, Namibia. The specimen shows bright yellow tsumcorite forming radiating, rosette-like crystal aggregates on a pale quartz-rich matrix, displaying the vivid colour and well-defined crystal habit typical for fine Tsumeb material.

Tsumcorite is a rare arsenate mineral, first described in 1957 and named after the Tsumeb Mine, its type locality and the most important source worldwide. The mineral forms as a secondary species in the oxidation zone of complex polymetallic deposits and belongs to a small group of closely related lead–zinc–iron arsenates.

The Tsumeb Mine is internationally renowned for producing some of the world’s finest secondary arsenate minerals. Tsumcorite is considered rare, and well-crystallized yellow aggregates such as these are highly sought after by systematic collectors. At Tsumeb, tsumcorite is commonly associated with quartz, which forms the dominant matrix, and may occur together with other secondary arsenates typical of the locality.

The specimen originates from the former collection of C. Strömpl, an amateur mineralogist.