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Malachite ps. Baryte (cover piece)$4,000.00
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This is a dramatic and sculptural miniature pseudomorph of malachite after baryte from this lesser-known copper-cobalt deposit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire). It is shown on the cover of the 2025 book by Mineralogical Record on Pseudomorphs, as a bonus to being beautiful on its own merits! This particular specimen features a rarely seen phenomenon of malachite pseudomorph in baryte that involves two completely different mineral chemistries! While the replacement is known, and some are found today, they are crude and not sharp in comparison to this special, older find. A divergent group of two dozen well-formed former baryte crystals with well-developed prism faces and chisel-point terminations have been completely replaced by silky, bright green malachite. These colorful green crystals are perched on a pale reddish to pinkish, contrasting sliver of matrix. Chemically, the original barium sulfate (baryte) here is totally replaced by copper carbonate (malachite) with the form of the original baryte preserved perfectly! This is a fairly rare, showy and seldom available material mined decades ago in the 1980s (Chris Wright had them, to my memory). These lovely and interesting pseudomorphs are difficult to find on the market these days. Comes with a custom lucite display base. Illustrated in Collecting Pseudomorphs: The Changelings of Mineralogy (Mineralogical Record, Jan 2025) on page 93 and as part of the front cover panel. Also illustrated in ExtraLapis #43: Pseudomorphs. Awarded Tucson Gem and Mineral Show's best in show Paul Desautels Trophy case (2009). Laszlo Kupi photo.
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