Otavite

rosasite; smithsonite (?)

A shard of altered dolostone covered with a thick, slightly mamillated layer of off-white to very pale grey otavite (EDS confirmed; Frank Keutsch, Harvard University), both as discernible microcrystals (sub-mm) and as earthy crusts (Exhibit 2). The reverse of the specimen reveals a little rosasite and very pale green smithsonite (?), the latter lining an inconspicuous (6 mm) vug.

The otavite gives a strong reddish-pink fluorescent response in short wavelength ultraviolet radiation (Exhibit 3).

Formerly in the collection of Bill Pinch, but with no record of earlier provenance. Pinch’s label notes that the specimen has been analysed by XRD, microprobe and Raman spectroscopy and attributes it to the “Green Hill” (i.e. Tsumeb outcrop) but with no supporting evidence. Pinch considered this specimen “probably the richest known.”