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Ajoite

Ajoite and papagoite phantoms in quartz are some of our favorite rare minerals.  They are mined in the same location, Messina Mine, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa.  This mining area has been closed for some time, so the specimens currently available come from old collections.  On occasion both ajoite and papagoite can be found within one crystal, and pagagoite is even rarer than ajoite.  We frequently joke, that investing in these minerals, is better than investing in stock, as their prices continue to climb.

These minerals were both originally found in matrix (not quartz) in Ajo, Arizona, thus the name ajoite.  Papagoite was named for the Papago tribe that was indigenous to the mining area.  (This tribe’s name has since been changed to the Tohono O’odham.)  Ajoite phantoms are a dreamy turquoise-colored blue, while papagoite phantoms are a vibrant cerulean blue, both being quite lovely to behold.

I completely forgot that my deadline to write this blog was tomorrow. Like most everyone else on this planet, I had many other items on my “to do” list, so when I began writing this article, I was completely stressed.  I have been holding my favorite ajoite crystal during this process, and now to my amazement, I am feeling completely tranquilized – what a relief! 

As I read in Melody’s, Love is in the Earth Crystal and Mineral Encyclopedia; I understand the shift in my condition:

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