Azurite (rare matrix specimen for the locality)

Item Description

Here we have an attractive display specimen of Azurite from the Dzhezkazgan area in Kazakhstan featuring a few semi-spherical "rose"-like groups of rich blue Azurite measuring up to 2.8 cm across, sitting on matrix. The piece is in good shape, only contacted on the lower edge where it was separated from the pocket wall. It's actually fairly rare to find matrix specimens of this material, most of what we've had to offer in the past are groups off matrix. We seldom see Azurite from Dzhezkazgan and this is one of those obscure treasures from the Hefendehl collection that we normally never see on the market today, and is decades old out of finds made and sold pre-internet so they are simply not well documented. The deposit is better known for its copper sulfides and sulfosalts (and in particular for fine silver specimens from the 1980s and 1990s), but did produce a limited amount of Azurite and other secondary copper minerals. It honestly reminds me of the specimens from La Sal, Utah. RARE on the market, valued $1,500.

From the collection of Kurt Hefendehl (#96 R), a well-known German collector all over Europe with worldwide contacts to dealers and collectors. He started collecting seriously at the age of 14 and his great and varied worldwide collection reached over 6000 pieces. He was very active mineralogically until shortly before his passing in 2020 at the age of 82. Considering his collection had a large number of pieces, it still had an unusually high standard of quality from most worldwide localities. He particularly specialized in all classics as well as minerals of the Black Forest, where he spent much time collecting. His Black Forest and German subcollections went to his good friend Wolfgang Wendel. We at The Arkenstone have the privilege of offering the remainder of this great worldwide collection through our various platforms.