Azurite (RARE locality specimen)

Item Description

Yes, that's right, this is an Azurite from Sterling Hill. With roughly 400 species reported from the Franklin District, it's not a huge surprise that Azurite has been found there, though specimens are exceedingly difficult to obtain on the market these days. This piece is very likely from the Passaic Pit, though I cannot say for certain, so we're leaving it Sterling Hill. With that, this attractive cabinet specimen features a mass of off-white colored Calcite that plays hosts to beautiful soft blue colored "spots" (almost a light coating) and actual crystalline aggregates of deep blue Azurite which are associated with black octahedral Franklinite. Both sides of the specimen feature plenty of Azurite that is clearly visible with the naked eye. Under SW UV light, the Calcite fluoresces a lovely pink hue, and there are small green fluorescent spots as well (Willemite?). The paragenesis is interesting as it almost appears that the Azurite in some areas is below the surface of the Calcite, and underneath the Franklinite, which is not what I would expect from a late-stage secondary ore mineral. A really good quality and eye-catching specimen of this elusive and beautiful material from Sterling Hill. If you collect worldwide Azurites or general Franklin minerals, your collection is not complete without one of these beauties. The piece is accompanied by a label from noted Franklin mineral dealers Ewald and Helen Gerstmann.