{"title":"Democratic Republic of Congo","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the world's most prolific mineral-producing countries, celebrated above all for the copper-cobalt deposits of the \u003cstrong\u003eKatanga Copper Crescent\u003c\/strong\u003e in the southeast. Mining centres such as \u003cstrong\u003eKolwezi\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eLikasi\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eKambove\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eKamoto\u003c\/strong\u003e have yielded extraordinary specimens of \u003cstrong\u003emalachite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eazurite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eheterogenite\u003c\/strong\u003e, and cobaltoan calcite, prized worldwide for their saturated colour and crystal habit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFew localities rival the historic \u003cstrong\u003eShinkolobwe Mine\u003c\/strong\u003e, source of uranium for the Manhattan Project and type locality for dozens of rare secondary uranium species including \u003cstrong\u003ebecquerelite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003estudtite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003ekasolite\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003esklodowskite\u003c\/strong\u003e — a mecca for micromineral and radioactive-mineral collectors. Nearby, the \u003cstrong\u003eKipushi Mine\u003c\/strong\u003e is renowned for its unusual zinc-copper-germanium sulfide suite, having produced the type material for \u003cstrong\u003erenierite\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003ebriartite\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003egermanite\u003c\/strong\u003e, alongside fine \u003cstrong\u003edolomite\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eaurichalcite\u003c\/strong\u003e. Further afield, the pegmatites of \u003cstrong\u003eKobokobo\u003c\/strong\u003e in Kivu province have furnished a remarkable series of new uranium phosphate species, while \u003cstrong\u003eManono\u003c\/strong\u003e is famous for tin and its giant spodumene pegmatite, and the alluvial fields of \u003cstrong\u003eMbuji-Mayi\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eTshikapa\u003c\/strong\u003e supply Kasai's diamonds.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCollectors seek Congolese specimens for their combination of scientific importance and visual beauty: dense, gemmy malachite, sharp cobaltoan calcite crystals, and rare uranium and germanium minerals unknown or scarce elsewhere. Decades of study by Belgian mineralogists have made this region a cornerstone of systematic mineralogy, and material from Katanga remains among the most sought-after in any serious specimen collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"lz-geode-malachite-0","title":"MALACHITE – Large BOTRYOIDAL Green Geode from Congo – Aesthetic Specimen","description":"\u003cp\u003eLarge natural Malachite specimen with intense green botryoidal formations and strong aesthetic impact. The piece shows dense microcrystalline surfaces with vivid emerald coloration and a well-preserved structure with no damage. Highly decorative and visually striking, suitable for mineral collections and interior display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"617\" data-end=\"634\"\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"635\" data-end=\"650\"\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 202 × 171 × 104 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"670\" data-end=\"681\"\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.383 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"691\" data-end=\"706\"\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e L’Étoile du Congo Mine, Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44313726713965,"sku":null,"price":649.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/IMG20260331182752.jpg?v=1776752854"},{"product_id":"lz-uranium-cuprosklodowskite-0","title":"URANIUM CUPROSKLODOWSKITE – Uranium Silicate Crystal from Congo – Rare Mineral","description":"\u003cp\u003eRare natural Cuprosklodowskite specimen from Musonoi, Kolwezi, Lualaba, Democratic Republic of Congo. The piece displays bright green radiating crystal aggregates on matrix with strong aesthetic contrast and excellent crystal definition. A rare uranium silicate mineral highly appreciated by advanced collectors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"760\" data-end=\"777\"\u003eMineral Data:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"778\" data-end=\"793\"\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 50 × 28 × 16 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"810\" data-end=\"821\"\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 19.48 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong data-start=\"830\" data-end=\"845\"\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Musonoi, Kolwezi, Lualaba, DR Congo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"ITALMINERAL","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44316646539373,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/AGC_20240228_220036000.webp?v=1772303582"},{"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":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0693\/8027\/6333\/files\/IMG20260309222922.jpg?v=1783934881"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.italmineral.com\/collections\/democratic-republic-of-congo.oembed","provider":"ITALMINERAL","version":"1.0","type":"link"}