Dioptase on Malachite (Unusual!) - image 1

Dioptase on Malachite (Unusual!) - image 2

Dioptase on Malachite (Unusual!)

Unknown Owner

Help improve this recordNo owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.

This specimen is not only unusual, it is downright odd. A complete spherical ball of lustrous, dark green malachite, almost 7.0 cm across, formed on a cerussite matrix. Although only small amounts of massive cerussite can be seen, the heft of this specimen makes it likely that the whole core is probably cerussite, inside. Later growth of lustrous and translucent, emerald green dioptase crystals, to nearly 1.0 cm across, ensued. Although this specimen doesn't get quite the highest marks for aesthetics (the top of the malachite ball is contacted slightly) and condition (some dioptase crystals are damaged), the combination of malachite and dioptase along with the weight from cerussite put this specimen in the "unique" category and it certainly stands out visually amongst a crowd!