Azurite with Malachite

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This killer Azurite specimen is from the historic mines of the Banat Mountains in Romania and can simply be summarised as sensational. Glassy, deep inky azure blue Azurite crystals of between 1 and 3 mm completely cover a base of deep rusty orange-brown hard limonite. From between these Azurite crystals emerge at least five stalactites (or stalagmites) in the form of rod-like towers of green tinted, earthy, cyan-sky-teal blue Azurite, of between 3 and 9 mm in diameter and the tallest three measuring 6 cm. The subtle variations in blues and their respective patinas are beautiful, and between some of these, smaller glassy Azurite crystals nestle in the concave recesses. On one side, the glassy Azurite crystals extend up the rods, forming a continuous carpet of crystallised Azurite to almost their termination. On the opposite side the rods remain exposed, where their stricture and colour can be studied. On this same side, a band of the glassy small Azurite crystals fold around the rods from the back to create a 1 to 2.5 cm coverage over the rods. Cavities within the limonitic base are richly dusted with 1 mm sprays of bright emerald-green acicular Malachite, although these are not visible once the specimen is stood upright. This is a thing of great beauty. It is a one-off cabinet specimen and a very different example of Azurite from this historic locality in Romania.