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Home > Phosphate Minerals – July 11 > MS1390 Reichenbachite on Pseudomalachite

Reichenbachite on Pseudomalachite - Sold

• Kipushi mine
• Haut-Katanga Province
• Democratic Republic of the Congo

• 6.5 by 4.6 by 4.1 cm – Small cabinet specimen (under 10 cm)

Reichenbachite is a hydrous copper phosphate mineral, originally described from Reichenbach, Germany (Sieber et al., 1987). Reichenbachite and pseudomalachite have the same chemical composition; they are polymorphs. Mineral specimens showing co-existing polymorphs are very unusual and usually indicate very specific formation conditions (i.e. P, T, chemistry). Reichenbachite forms splays of green crystals averaging 1 mm on a 3.5 by 3 cm coverage of blue-green pseudomalachite. A dealer label from Gilbert Gauthier (1924–2006) accompanies this specimen.