Oosterboschite , Trogtalite , Cuprosklodowskite , Quartz Locality: Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Kolwezi District, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) Size: 4.2 x 2.9 x 2.3 cm Oosterboschite and trogtalite are very rare selenides, with the former having palladium and copper and the latter having cobalt. The famed Musonoi is the Type Locality for Oosterboschite. This piece is from the Howard Belsky Collection, who collected many rare species. We believe the splendent gray crystals on one end surrounded by a green mineral are the oosterboschite. The quartz matrix holds several vugs richly lined with gemmy, green cuprosklowdoskite needles. The brown crystals richly lining one vug could be oxidized trogtalite, as MINDAT lists this species as being rose-violet. X-ray work would be needed to confirm species identifications in a normal case but, as this is from the Belsky Collection, it’s pretty certain to be legitimate. He had his own analytical setup and did much work with friends in museums, specializing in rarities. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Oosterboschite
A rare creamy-yellow palladium-copper selenide crystallizing in the orthorhombic system.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Oosterboschite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the sulfide class, with the chemical formula (Pd,Cu)₇Se₅.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5–5; specific gravity 8.48.
IMA symbol Oos, IMA status: approved, named in 1970.
Found in the zone of oxidation (Musonoi mine, Congo).
It is found associated with Verbeekite, trogtalite, selenian digenite, covellite (Musonoi mine, Congo); gold, chrisstanleyite, verbeekite (Hope’s Nose, England).
The name refers to Robert Oosterbosch (1908–), Belgian mining engineer, for many years involved in the development of the Shaba mines.