The forest-green color of the rosasite indicates and unusually high zinc content.  The rosasite rests atop a matrix of massive, orange-brown limonite.  This orange-brown matrix is an identifying characteristic of virtually all oxidized-mineral specimens from the Ojuela Mine.  If you look closely, this piece has some thin botryoidal masses of rosasite covering the  top of this specimen. A very interesting piece.  A great addition to any mineral collection.

This month’s featured mineral is rosasite for the Ojuela Mine at Mapimi, Mexico.  We have never before featured this uncommon basic copper zinc carbonate as our Mineral of the Month.

Rosasite in named after the Rosas Mine in Sardinia, Italy, where it was first discovered.

One of the Western Hemisphere’s most historic and productive mines, Ojuela is located in north-central Mexico.  The Ojuela Mine has more than 200 miles of underground workings, the deepest of which are now flooded.  Ojuela has yielded more than 126 different minerals species and is the type locality for 6 species.

According to metaphysical practitioners, rosasite is a calming stone that facilitates coping with stress, aids memory, and encourages confidence.

Size: 2.5″ x 2.5″

Locality: Ojuela Mine, Mapimi, Mexico