Home > Lily mine – September 30 > MS0986 Atacamite

Atacamite - Sold


Atacamite is the kickoff 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 12 mm crystal seen here. The matrix is pale beige calcite crystals, which provides an excellent contrast. While not reaching the crystal size of the historic Australian specimens, the wonderful contrast makes this specimen especially appealing.