Chalcophyllite

Highly aesthetic micromount of chalcophyllite from the classic Madonna di Fucinaia locality (Tuscany, Italy), featuring a dense hemispherical aggregate of intergrown tabular crystals arranged in a compact rosette at the bottom of a small cavity. The crystals display sharply defined, flat, highly reflective faces with excellent edge and termination development.

The color ranges from deep blue-green to dark emerald green depending on crystal thickness, typical of this hydrated basic copper arsenate. In reflected light, the luster is vitreous to subadamantine, while in transmitted light some areas show partial transparency with intense turquoise internal reflections.

The crystals form pseudo-hexagonal plates stacked in a radial pattern, illustrating the complex crystallography of chalcophyllite. The dark brown to black matrix, rich in copper oxidation products, provides a striking contrast that enhances both the geometry and the saturation of the blue-green crystals.

This specimen is of particular interest to advanced collectors, representing a classic Italian copper-arsenate association, combining relative rarity, fine crystal definition, and high aesthetic quality in micromineralogy.

In a box 2.8x2.8cm, labelled

FoV : 2.8mm