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Turquoise

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MGR837928

Turquoise

Pseudomorph

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
St Gertraudi, Brixlegg, Tyrol, Austria
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Thumbnail (1-3cm)
Size: 
2.2 × 1.5 × 1.1 cm
Description

This is a unique specimen from the famous historic mining area of Brixlegg. These are two teeth of a bat. My assumption is, that one dead bat was lying in a copper-bearing solution. During the centuries the calcium-part of the fluorapatite (teeth consist of fluorapatite to 95%) was convertet to turquoise. The teeth are resting on "matrix", which was in fact the jawbone of the bat. They are absolutely stabile, nothing fixed, glued or stabilized - it is to 100% in natural state. I acquired 5 of these specimen from an old collection and in my evaluation they represents an out-standing rarity. I collect Austrian minerals since 40 years and never saw anything like this. I also spoke to a prominen mineralogist, who is an expert for minerals from the area and he shared my evaluation. And finally a biologist confirmed that the teeth were from a bat. Next to the unique state I would say this piece looks very eye-catching. No significant damages to report.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Turquoise

Formula: 
Cu(Al,Fe3+)6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O
Strunz: 
8.DD.15
Crystal System: 
Triclinic
Hardness: 
5.0 - 6.0