Azurite, Bayldonite and Malachite

Item Description

This is a very rich and colorful piece from Tsumeb comprised of Azurite, Bayldonite and Malachite. The core of the piece is essentially massive and somewhat vuggy, variegated green with darker green Malachite admixed and brighter green Bayldonite forming a vibrant foundation for the later deposited, royal blue Azurite crystals. The Azurite occurs in tight clusters of 3 to 5 mm, bladed crystals that are prominent on the front and one side then moderately distributed on the bottom and back of the piece. This is a lively colored piece with some heft too considering all of the copper-bearing species! With this combination, we can confidently say it is an early Tsumeb piece from the First Oxidation Zone, mined late 1800s til about 1916, from the original deposit known as Green HIll. An old classic!