The Tell

Mineral Matters #709

Here is a native copper, coated with a green secondary mineral (perhaps brochantite), in the shape of a seahorse or Sea Monkey (there’s that pareidolia again! 🤣).

Now if you were a fan of Broken Hill minerals, even without a label, you would likely guess that this is where it came from (spoiler alert - it does have a label, and it is Broken Hill!).

But there is a tell-tale association, albeit it micro, that confirms it. Look closely in the second photo and you can see some tiny orange balls. These are spessartine garnets, and the association is a clincher.

By the way, when I was young, I used to see ads in comics for Sea Monkey kits. I was always fascinated by them (and secretly wanted some), although never did get any. I didn’t really know what they were. If you don’t know, and you are interested, they are brine shrimp (Artemia) sold as novelty aquarium pets.

Below: Copper, Broken Hill, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales. 38mm long.

Below: Close up showing spessartine garnets. Width of view 6mm.

Below: Sea Monkeys advertisement similar to the ones I saw as a kid.

Below: What they actually look like.