Wavellite with Quartz

Although Wavellite is a fairly well-known phosphate species, it is truly only found in a handful of localities in well-crystallized display specimens. The majority of the Wavellites from world localities feature either micro crystals, or incomplete (broken) spheres on matrix. The Bolivian Wavellites, particularly those from the famous Siglo XX mine, are among the best in the world due to the fact that they occur with eye-visible spheres that are often very well crystallized and not broken in half. In addition to the good quality of the Wavellites, the Siglo XX specimens are also found with interesting associations and pleasing matrixes.

Several excellent, somewhat lustrous to satiny, translucent to opaque radiating yellow to light yellow-cream colored “balls” of Wavellite are associated with GEM to gemmy, prismatic colorless Quartz crystals on matrix. Good quality all the way around, and certainly aesthetic compared to most Wavellites from this mine.

Specimen # BOL711B52