Chrysocolla

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An amazing cabinet-sized chrysocolla plate from the Inspiration Mine. This is old material, rarely seen today. At first glance, most people would think, this was top quality "Kelly-blue," botryoidal smithsonite. But no, this is actually superb quality chrysocolla with outstanding "Kelly-blue" color, incredibly bright waxy luster, and an unusual translucence. This classic, old-time specimen was formerly in the collection of renowned Mexico collector, Dr. Miguel Romero; and was on display at the University of Arizona Mineral Museum with a few of his other Southwest-associated specimens, for a decade since the late 1990s. The clear acetate label is from the Romero display collection at the museum. The two adjacent dings on botryoids in the center of this striking piece have been buffed out, lightly polished, which is the only defect here. Although, it is interesting because then you can see into the cores of those 2 central crystals, with one showing abrasion down enough to see there is a bit of malachite inside. Some people say these are merely coverings of chrysocolla deposited atop a previous generation of malachite (ps. after azurite) crystals; though others think that these are actually chrysocolla alterations after malachite, itself after azurite. Some specimens show more crystal form under the chrysocolla, whereas this one is so saturated with thick, bubbly chrysocolla it is hard to tell there were malachite crystals underneath at one time. Regardless, this is one of the very finest chrysocolla specimens that I have seen from any worldwide locality, in my experience.