Azurite (Phil. Academy of Science Coll.)

Item Description

A historic, old-time and outstanding azurite specimen from the famous Tsumeb Mine. A superb, large, lustrous crystal with gemmy, electric-blue highlights is partially altered to malachite and is encased in gossan matrix. The upper part of the crystal is stunning in its sharpness, crystal form and mirror-bright luster. The quality is rarely seen in older specimens like this. All three sides are visible on this very fine, old Tsumeb azurite. The piece is assumed to have been collected by Sam Gordon in 1929 on his famous and well-documented trip to Tsumeb for the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences. It was exchanged from the Academy collection in the past (probably in the 1970s) ahead of the recent deaccessions, and ended up in the Steve and Carol Maslansky Collection. Valued at $1750-2000.