Cornetite

specimen number:
2354234

location:
L'Etoile du Congo Mine, Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

description:
Deep blue radiating crystal groupings of cornetite to 0.8 cm across lying flat across the top of matrix. In good condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Jack Nieburger.

Located within the Central African Copperbelt in Haut-Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the L'Etoile du Congo Mine (Star Mine) features a complex sediment-hosted copper and cobalt deposit formed through supergene enrichment and hydrothermal alteration within Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks. Mining activity here dates back to pre-colonial indigenous workings, evolving into major modern open-pit copper and cobalt extraction that exposes rich oxidized ore zones. These oxidized environments support the formation of rare secondary copper phosphate minerals, most notably cornetite, which has made the locality world-famous among mineral collectors and museums for producing exceptionally rich, deep blue to greenish-blue crystal specimens.

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