Malachite on Calcite

$3,250.00

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The ArkenstoneFeatured

3,415 for sale·787 sold

A rare, old-time malachite from an obscure German locale at Freidensgrube (although ANY German malachite should be considered rare!). It is big and showy, with Congo-quality malachite sprays on this unusual matrix. Several, rich green, intergrown malachite sprays dominate the display face on the front of this colorful piece. There are nearly a dozen, divergent, silky and chatoyant malachite sprays that display prominently in the central portion of this piece on an off-white, slightly iron-stained matrix (of what appears to be calcite). The malachite is just beautiful with its radiating sprays of gleaming fibrous crystals. Brown-orange goethite stains the interstices and there are knots of it as part of the matrix and mixed with the calcite. This piece is from an area that was known for iron and copper mining and smelting in the Middle Ages but from which we see few specimens today. An attractive and historic piece from an old German collection. Comes with a custom lucite base.