Plancheite included Quartz on Silver with Malachite and Calcite

Blue, acicular plancheite inclusions within a quartz crystal perched on a crystallized nugget of native silver. Surprisingly, the associations don’t stop there as calcite and green “primary” malachite (Raman analyzed; originally thought to be libethenite or dioptase) can be seen on the surface of the silver crystal. Some portions of the silver can be even be seen protruding out of a larger calcite cleave at the bottom left portion of the specimen while the main libethenite cluster is on the right. This specimen was acquired from Leighton Werschky (Miner’s Lunchbox) during the 2025 Tucson gem and mineral shows at Mineral City.

Photographed by Laszlo Kupi (Fine Mineral Photography).