Quartz coating Malachite pseudomorphs after Azurite

Piedmont Mine, Brooklyn Peak, Yavapai County, Arizona
Small Cabinet, 5.3 x 3.1 x 2.7 cm
Start Time: 08/31/2017 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 09/07/2017 6:45:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed

Item Description

These are some of the most echanthing specimens from this lesser known gold / copper deposit. According to the literature, the mine stopped producing specimens in 1940. This piece is one of the best examples I've seen from the locality of this particular material. It features blocky rich green colored crystals of Malachite which have pseudomorphed from Azurite, and then a generation of drusy sparkling Quartz was deposited on top to create a sugary exterior. The matrix is Quartz so there are actually two generations of Quartz on one piece. A small nick on one of the crystals keeps it from being 100% perfect, but it's still really good for what it is, and the rest of the display side of the specimen is pristine. You can actually see on the back of the piece, the exposed Malachite pseduomorphs where it was removed from the pocket. The largest crystal measures 1.4 cm on edge. Very showy, and larger than the other pieces of this material we've offered in the past. Old material to be sure, and the piece comes with a collection label and a dealer label from Dick Morris and Mark Hay.

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