Vivianite

This museum-quality aesthetic specimen features a number of sharp, lustrous, gemmy, blue-green prismatic crystals, some measuring over 5 cm long and hosted on a sparkling brown siderite matrix. This specimen is exceptionally large for matrix pieces from the Huanuni Mine and was likely discovered in the mid-1990s.

Vivianite is a well-known phosphate mineral forming highly aesthetic sharply-colored crystals. Vivianite often forms with remnants of organic material such as prehistoric shells and fossils, and may even form inside of them. The species is named in honor of John Henry Vivian (1785-1855), an English mineralogist and mine owner who first discovered the mineral in Cornwall.

World-renowned mineral dealer Dr. Rob Lavinsky has written of the Huanuni Mine that, "it has produced some of the finest vivianite specimens in the world, but fine quality specimens have all but disappeared from the market since the mine was taken over by the Bolivian government several years ago. Due to the vast tin deposits in this mine, removing colorful phosphates is strictly forbidden, and the levels upon which these beautiful specimens are found have been intentionally flooded to keep miners out."