{"title":"D.R. Congo","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most prolific mineral-producing countries on Earth, anchored by the vast \u003cstrong\u003eKatanga Copper Crescent\u003c\/strong\u003e (Katanga Copperbelt) in the southeast, part of the Central African Copperbelt hosting stratabound copper-cobalt mineralization within the Precambrian \u003cstrong\u003eKatangan Supergroup\u003c\/strong\u003e. Around \u003cstrong\u003eKolwezi\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eLikasi\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eKambove\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eLubumbashi\u003c\/strong\u003e, oxidation of primary sulfides produced an extraordinary secondary mineral suite: \u003cstrong\u003emalachite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003echrysocolla\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003ecuprite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eazurite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eheterogenite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003epseudomalachite\u003c\/strong\u003e, and cobaltiferous \u003cstrong\u003ecalcite\u003c\/strong\u003e. Congolese malachite, especially from mines like \u003cstrong\u003eStar of the Congo\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eKasompi\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eMashamba West\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eMusonoi\u003c\/strong\u003e, is world-renowned for botryoidal and stalactitic growths, chatoyant needle sprays, and saturated emerald to bottle-green color, arguably the finest and most abundant specimen-grade malachite ever produced.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeyond copper minerals, the same Katanga deposits are legendary for uranium and rare secondary species. The \u003cstrong\u003eShinkolobwe\u003c\/strong\u003e mine, historically source of uranium ore for the first atomic bombs, is the type locality for dozens of species including \u003cstrong\u003ekasolite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003esklodowskite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003estudtite\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003ecurite\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cstrong\u003eMusonoi\u003c\/strong\u003e yielded rare uranium selenites such as \u003cstrong\u003edemesmaekerite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003ederriksite\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eguilleminite\u003c\/strong\u003e, while \u003cstrong\u003eKamoto\u003c\/strong\u003e is the type locality of \u003cstrong\u003ekolwezite\u003c\/strong\u003e, a copper-cobalt carbonate. \u003cstrong\u003eShangulowe\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eTantara\u003c\/strong\u003e are prized for striking associations of \u003cstrong\u003eplancheite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eshattuckite\u003c\/strong\u003e and vivid green \u003cstrong\u003edioptase\u003c\/strong\u003e paired with pink cobaltoan calcite, while the \u003cstrong\u003eStar Mine\u003c\/strong\u003e near Lubumbashi is known for blue rosettes of \u003cstrong\u003ecornetite\u003c\/strong\u003e. Further north, \u003cstrong\u003eKambove\u003c\/strong\u003e supplies fibro-radiated \u003cstrong\u003eplancheite\u003c\/strong\u003e and crystallized \u003cstrong\u003ecarrollite\u003c\/strong\u003e, a cobalt-copper sulfide much sought by collectors for its brilliant metallic cubes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOutside the copperbelt, Congo's geological diversity continues: the \u003cstrong\u003eKivu\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eManono\u003c\/strong\u003e regions host tin- and tantalum-bearing pegmatites yielding \u003cstrong\u003ecolumbite-tantalite\u003c\/strong\u003e, gem-grade \u003cstrong\u003etourmaline\u003c\/strong\u003e, and cassiterite, while \u003cstrong\u003eKasai\u003c\/strong\u003e province (Mbuji-Mayi, Tshikapa) is a major diamond-producing district. Almandine garnet crusts occur at \u003cstrong\u003eKamiaba\u003c\/strong\u003e, and gold, wolframite and coltan are worked across the eastern Kivu and Maniema provinces. Collectors prize DR Congo material for its unmatched combination of mineralogical rarity, vivid coloration and sheer diversity of type-locality species, few countries in the world have contributed so many new minerals to science while simultaneously producing such visually spectacular, museum-quality specimens of malachite, cuprite, dioptase and cobalt-bearing carbonates.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mun2025-crisocolla-drcongo-1","title":"CHRYSOCOLLA – Candy-Like Blue Botryoidal Crystals on Malachite, Congo","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eNatural Chrysocolla on Malachite from the Star Mine (L'Etoile du Congo), Lubumbashi, DR Congo — the classic locality for this vivid blue-on-green botryoidal combination. Intense sky-blue chrysocolla forms smooth, glossy, candy-like rounded crystals over green malachite, creating a striking natural color contrast. The mine is reported to be largely worked out, making consistent new material increasingly scarce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 65 × 35 × 28 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 85 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Star Mine (L'Etoile du Congo), Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45453418233965,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/IMG20260309222922.jpg?v=1783934881"},{"product_id":"fa15-torbernite-dr-congo-0","title":"URANIUM TORBERNITE – Extremely Rare Green Crystal Cluster from Shinkolobwe Mine, DR Congo","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking natural (Naturally low-level radioactive) Torbernite specimen showing well-developed tabular crystal growth in an intense, deep green color. The crystal surfaces are clean and well-defined, offering excellent aesthetic appeal for display or study. This piece comes from the historic and now officially closed Shinkolobwe Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the most famous uranium localities in the world, adding a strong collectible and historical value to the specimen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 92 x 59 x 43 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 154 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shinkolobwe Mine, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45453729136749,"sku":null,"price":399.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/IMG20260307222449.jpg?v=1783944830"},{"product_id":"mun2025-crisocolla-d-r-congo-3","title":"CHRYSOCOLLA \u0026 HETEROGENITE – Azure-Blue on Black, Star Mine, DR Congo","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking natural specimen combining vivid azure-blue Chrysocolla with lustrous, deep blue-black Heterogenite, entirely untreated and full of visual contrast. The smooth, rounded surfaces of both minerals create a dynamic interplay of color and texture, making this piece a strong aesthetic and mineralogical addition to any collection. It comes from the historic Star of the Congo Mine near Lubumbashi, a locality now depleted and no longer actively worked, which adds to the long-term collectible value of specimens like this one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 71 x 61 x 49 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 91 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Star of the Congo Mine (L'Etoile du Congo Mine), Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45457011966061,"sku":null,"price":79.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/IMG20260318202900.jpg?v=1784027723"},{"product_id":"mun2025-crisocolla-eterogenite-d-r-congo-2","title":"CHRYSOCOLLA \u0026 HETEROGENITE – Deep Blue Contrast, Star Mine, D.R. Congo","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking combination specimen featuring vivid azure-blue chrysocolla intergrown with lustrous midnight-blue heterogenite, from the well-known Star Mine (L'Etoile du Congo Mine) near Lubumbashi, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The piece displays a well-developed botryoidal crust with a bold color contrast between the two minerals, creating strong visual depth and an eye-catching aesthetic ideal for display or collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 79 x 79 x 34 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 187 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Star Mine (L'Etoile du Congo Mine), Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, D.R. Congo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45457012785261,"sku":null,"price":69.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/IMG20260405172638.jpg?v=1784027913"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.italmineral.com\/collections\/d-r-congo.oembed","provider":"ITALMINERAL","version":"1.0","type":"link"}