Azurite with Malachite (classic material)

Item Description

Tsumeb Azurites are not only classics, but they are some of the finest examples of the species ever found. At their finest level, these crystals are remarkably sharp and lustrous with deep midnight blue color and textbook crystal morphology. This piece is an attractive small cabinet sized of these beloved Azurites, featuring a pair of crystals with beautiful blocky form and fairly deep surface etching patterns. n reflected light, you can see deep electric blue flashes of color just beneath the surface. The crystals are associated with rich green Malachite, and there is a bit of matrix attached to the back, allowing the piece to sit wonderfully on its own without the aid of a base or clay. Although the crystals are etched, they are not really damaged, but there is very minor edge wear on one side It's difficult to capture the quality of the piece in a photo or video, and I would say that this one looks better in person. Valued at $2,000 retail. This piece comes to us from the legendary Ron Romanella (February 28, 1932 - October 24, 2022), a well-known gem and mineral dealer from New York City. He passed away mineralogy at Columbia School of Mines, and he was mentored by Dr. Frederick Pough of the American Museum of Natural History, and learned about the business side from well-known mineral dealers Hugh Ford and Maurice Hammoneau. Ron himself was a mentor to other successful East Coast mineral dealers such as Larry Conklin, Herb Obodda and even employed Dave Wilber for a time. He largely transitioned out of selling minerals as his business focused more on gems for the last few decades, and his sons Michael and Jerry have been running the family business in Scottsdale for many years now. With that said, Ron was one of the great powerhouse mineral dealers in the US for many years, offering fine quality specimens and gem crystals from classic and contemporary localities. Among his top achievements, is that Ron is credited with importing the first known crystals of Tanzanite into the US in the 1960s.