Azurite

Item Description

This is an absolutely exquisite matrix azurite specimen. The large crystal reaches nearly 4 cm in length and is well formed like a chisel tip, with splendent luster and dark royal blue color with neon flashes of blue highlights. The quality is extremely high, and the thickness of the crystal makes it unusual for the location (where most azurites are more gracile in habit, less robust).The neon blue flashes are due to the growth of a micro-thin later deposition of azurite upon an already fully formed crystal surface. This crystal on one side shows a complete face of azurite at the viewer. On the other side, the complexity shows that there is an azurite cap of lustrous, deep blue azurite perched atop a crystal of malachite, that itself is a pseudomorph of malachite after yet an earlier generation of azurite. This combinatorial layering has resulted in a superb competition quality azurite which looks very different and equally interesting from either side. Valued $3000, perhaps more. I have seen similarly impressive, if slightly different, Moroccan azurites of this general quality level sell for (or at least offered at) $4-5k in some dealer booths at some shows, particularly factoring in the euro exchange rate. Comes with a custom-made lucite base for easy display (for which the collector paid $150 at one time).