Home > Lily mine – September 30 > MS0993 Atacamite

Atacamite - Sold


Atacamite is the namesake original mineral of this polymorphous group, taking its name from the Atacama Desert in Chile. Found just before the year 1800 in Chile, Blumenbach (1803) gave the mineral its current name. Atacamite is orthorhombic, and typically forms elongate crystals, such as the 13 mm crystal on this example. The crystal has formed in depression in carpet of pale beige calcite crystals. Excellent contrast and aesthetics. While not reaching the crystal size of the historic Australian specimens, the wonderful contrast makes this specimen especially appealing.