Azurite on Quartz (RARE - Szenics & Harvard Coll.)

Item Description

Azurite and quartz combinations are VERY RARE from this less well-known Chile copper mine. Both species are listed by MINDAT for the locale, but there are no examples of either species in the Photo Gallery. This exceptional, rich and sculptural upright piece features azurite crystals richly covering a striking spray of oxide-coated quartz crystals with some contrasting malachite. Small lustrous, platy azurite crystals are royal-blue to midnight-blue under normal light, but GLOW with electric-blue color under bright light. The quartz crystals reach about 6.0 cm. Well-known Chile field collector, Skip Szenics, collected this outstanding rarity during the 1990s. Skip sold a group of Chilean specimens from his personal collection to Harvard in 2002, including this fine crystallized specimen. It was valued at $1500 at that time and then came to us years after passing through a deaccession deal . A unique azurite and quartz combination rarity from the Manto Cuba Mine.