Malachite on Copper

Item Description

Here is a spectacular, large and colorful Malachite coating and partially replacing dendritic Copper from the famous copper mine at Emke, not far from Tsumeb in Namibia. The underlying copper provides a classic arborescent branching form upon which the Malachite was later deposited. The Copper is only evident at a few places on the periphery of the piece where it may have been bumped and the Malachite removed showing 1 to 2 mm areas of the Native Copper underneath. The Malachite on Copper creates a striking, super aesthetic and sculptural specimen in which the earlier formed Copper was subsequently coated with colorful, vibrant and variegated green Malachite. This is a spectacular cabinet piece of Malachite on Copper from this world renown locality that exhibits exceptional presentation and balance. These specimens came out mostly in the 1960s and 1970s, and then the mine closed to production. The locality has been extinct since then. This, or any large and showy specimen, is a thing of rarity! Valued $4500-plus.