Chrysocolla

specimen number:
2262123

location:
Kakanda Mine, Lubudi, Lualaba, DR Congo

description:
Dark bluish green lustrous botryoidal chrysocolla covering pretty much all surfaces of this matrix. In good condition. An old example from the 1960s.

The Kakanda Mine, located in the Lualaba Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is situated within the prolific Central African Copperbelt. Geologically, the site features Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks of the Katanga Supergroup, where primary copper and cobalt sulfides underwent intense oxidation to create a rich secondary mineral zone. Kakanda is well known for producing high-quality chrysocolla, a hydrated copper silicate that often occurs as vibrant, sky-blue to blue-green botryoidal crusts or massive aggregates, sometimes appearing as a brilliant coating over malachite or quartz. Historically, industrial mining and quarrying at Kakanda began in the early 20th century, with the Union Miniere du Haut-Katanga initiating large-scale open-pit operations in the 1920s. While production has fluctuated due to regional instability and changes in ownership between Gecamines and various international partners, the mine has seen renewed activity and expansion projects throughout the 2010s and continues to be a significant source of copper and cobalt ore through 2026. The locality remains an essential site for studying the complex supergene enrichment processes that define the world's premier copper-cobalt province.

Lawrence Conklin was a world-renowned mineral dealer based in New York City, widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and sophisticated figures in the history of the mineral trade. Operating from his office on 5th Avenue and later from his home in Connecticut, Conklin specialized in "antique" minerals and specimens with significant historical provenance. He was a meticulous researcher and an elegant writer, often publishing articles that corrected historical errors in mineralogical literature. His career spanned over five decades, during which he handled some of the finest known specimens from classic European and American localities, setting a high standard for aesthetic quality and documentation in the field.

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