Azurite with Malachite (found 1929)

Item Description

This is a nicely composed thumbnail Azurite cluster from Tsumeb of a very old style. A half dozen tabular, midnight blue Azurite crystals are stacked attractively with a large, 2.3 cm crystal at the top displaying prominently. The crystal is doubly terminated and has very good luster accompanied by subtle striations parallel to its length. The other, smaller crystals form the base and they are also sharply formed and range in size from 0.4 to 1.3 cm. A few small patches of green Malachite grace the broad faces on the two larger crystals indicating incipient replacement of the Azurite by the Malachite. One side of the piece shows an area where it was attached to the matrix and adds interest as it contains tiny crystals of off-white Calcite and greenish Duftite. It is a very nice combination thumbnail from classic deposit for Azurite, along with numerous other species! A handwritten note accompanying the piece indicates that it was found in 1929! The note, in modern hand, simply says found in 1929, but then names Kegel as the source. Friedrich Wilhelm Kegel (1874–1948), from 1924 to 1933, was the director of the mining operations at Tsumeb mine, Namibia.