Azurite - circa early 1900s

Item Description

This is a nicely composed old-style Azurite cluster from Tsumeb. Well over a dozen, relatively large, tabular, midnight blue Azurite crystals are stacked attractively in parallel, to near parallel, growth on this aesthetic cluster on matrix and associated with some minor Malachite. The lustrous, gracefully arranged crystals vary in size from 1 to 2 cm in length and width with so many of the terminated crystals displaying prominently. Many of the Azurites are doubly terminated with sharp, almost chisel-like terminations and and all of them are accompanied by subtle striations parallel to its length. A few small patches of green Malachite grace the broad faces on a few of the larger crystals indicating incipient replacement of the Azurite by the Malachite. The backside of the piece consists of a variegated greenish blue and yellowish green mottling of copper secondary minerals. This is a classic Azurite from early discoveries from Tsumeb! Dr. Georg Gebhard's label accompanies and dates it to the 6th level which is in the 1st Oxidation Zone, prior to 1920.