Veszelyite Locality: Black Pine Mine (Combination Mine; Black Pine Tailings; Black Pine Dump), Flint Creek Valley, John Long Mts, Philipsburg District (Flint Creek District), Granite County , Montana , USA ( Locality at mindat.org ) This specimen is a killer for the species, from a famous one-time set of small pockets found over 30 years ago at this now-defunct mine. Pieces of this quality dispersed immediately and now can be had only in teh recycling of noted collections, since they were snapped up generally by such folks to begin with. This one features a particularly large rosette of beautiful, rich blue crystals perched on a small quartz crystal point as a natural pedestal in such a way as to resemble the leaves of an artichoke, radiating in several directions! There is a very small bit of wear on the left side of the upright cluster of crysatls, but it does not detract from the display face and given teh size and context of the rarity here, it simply doesn't matter much. The deep blue color is classic, and the tips are gemmy enough to transmit light (highly unusual!). This is therefore a superb thumbnail, and also important for the species. 2.2 x 1.4 x 1.1 cm — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Veszelyite
Veszelyite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula (Cu,Zn)₂Zn(PO₄)(OH)₃·2H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/a). It is a member of the Veszelyite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5–4; specific gravity 3.4; Green to white streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Vsz, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1874.
A rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized zone of some base-metal mineral deposits.
It is found associated with Pseudomalachite, malachite, hemimorphite, pyromorphite, kipushite, vauquelinite, libethenite, quartz, iron oxides (Kipushi mine, Congo); hemimorphite.
The mineral was named to honor A. Veszelyi (1820–1888), Hungarian mining engineer, who discovered the species.