Description
Hotsonite, an exceptionally rare mineral, is found in only two known locations globally: the Pofadder region of South Africa’s Northern Cape Province, where it was first identified in 1982, and the Sierra Nevada mine near Tonopah, Nevada, which is managed by the Otteson family. While it superficially resembles turquoise, Hotsonite is a distinctly unique mineral. Turquoise, a hydrous phosphate containing copper and aluminum, has the chemical formula CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O, whereas Hotsonite is a hydrated aluminum phosphate-sulfate mineral with the chemical formula Al11(PO4)2(SO4)3(OH)21·16H2O. Because of Hotsonite’s natural softness, it requires stabilization treatments to be suitable for jewelry. Currently, we are pleased to share that we plan to keep this remarkable specimen in our mineral collection.
