Malachite with Cuprite

Unknown Owner

Beautifully crystallized green malachite in a cluster with minor deep red cuprite. In good condition with just slight rubbing present.The Mashamba West Mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is part of the Kolwezi mining district, one of the worlds richest copper and cobalt regions. The deposit was developed during the 20th century as part of large scale industrial mining operations in the Katanga Copperbelt. Mining has focused on copper and cobalt ores hosted in sedimentary rocks, with both open pit and underground methods used over time. The mine is also well known among mineral collectors for producing fine specimens of minerals such as malachite, heterogenite, and other secondary copper and cobalt minerals formed in the oxidized zones.