CHRYSOCOLLA ps. after MALACHITE ps. after AZURITE with QUARTZ

Seven tabular former Azurite crystals form a sub-vertical cluster which have subsequently pseudomorphed to Malachite and then to Chrysocolla. This specimen is from a recent find in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Tenke-Fungurume area delineates a 30 km mineralised zone between Tenke hill and Fungurume hill in the Kolwezi mining district, primarily worked for copper and cobalt. The base and adjacent areas show the rich leafy emerald-green core which remains unaltered. The Chrysocolla is entirely coated with micro crystallised transparent Quartz and in this specimen the coating on one side is completely colourless whereas the opposite side is tinged a slight lemon yellow. The latter alters the colour of the underlying Chrysocolla to a delicate powder-blue while the colourless Quartz transmits the vivid and intense sky-blue. This demonstrates the Quartz has been preferentially deposited in two stages. A beautiful and very well-priced small miniature specimen of pseudomorphed Chrysocolla from the Kolwezi mining district of the DRC.

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Crystal Classics

Tucson, Arizona, USA