Shannonite and Molybdofornacite crystals from the Tonopah-Belmont Mine, Arizona, USA – 1 unique flat.
This systematically assembled collection includes numerous small specimens featuring crystals of the extremely rare lead oxide variety Shannonite, as well as greenish crusts of Molybdofornacite. These two uncommon secondary minerals typically occur on reddish-brown to dark matrix. Shannonite appears as pale gray to yellowish, finely dispersed or in small crusts, while Molybdofornacite forms vivid green coatings or fine needle-like aggregates.
The Tonopah-Belmont Mine near Phoenix, Arizona, is a classic U.S. locality known for rare secondary minerals associated with lead-rich vein material. The paragenetic diversity of the site includes numerous rare chromates, oxides, and molybdenum minerals – among them the species represented here. Such finds are exceptionally rare and of particular interest to collectors of unusual mineral formations.