Quartz on Chrysocolla

Unknown Owner

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If you are not a mineral collector you could be forgiven for thinking that this specimen is made of candle wax, but it is not, it is simply the magical appearance of Chalcedonic Quartz upon Chrysocolla. Both the Chrysocolla and Quartz form stalactites, but it is the Chrysocolla that has formed first, with Quartz draping over its surface, just like wax. This mineralogical assemblage is one of the things for which Ray mine is famous and one could speculate that this formation of mineral is what gave the Dripping Spring Mts. their name, although it is probably not. This piece is not only wonderful in its presentation, but it is extremely well provenanced - to the 1900' Level. This level (pardon the pun) of detail is very unusual, and gives an insight to where minerals were found within this huge open pit mine. A really fantastic and tactile specimen that would make a superb talking point with your non-mineral collecting friends.