Azurite with Malachite pseudomorphs after Cuprite (historic material)

Item Description

A fantastic cabinet sized historic specimen from one of the most classic localities in all of Europe, which just happens to be the TYPE LOCALITY for Azurite ! This robust piece is a classic layered semi-"rosette"-shaped group of featuring dozens of dark blue bladed crystals of Azurite measuring up to about 8 mm, which play host to attractive and notably sharp / well-formed little pseudomorphs of attractive green Malachite replacing preexisting crystals of Cuprite. The pseudomorphs measure up to about 4 mm, and with a loupe I can see they vary in habit from octahedrons to dodecahedrons. I don't know if there is another locality quite like Chessy where you have a secondary copper mineral (Azurite), which acts essentially as the matrix for another secondary copper minerals (Malachite) to form pseudomorphs after yet a THIRD secondary copper mineral (Cuprite). This is a very good quality specimen considering the age of the piece, and it is very difficult for collectors to obtain fine quality specimens of this material today especially in this size. This specimen was mined circa mid 1800s. A great specimen for any collector, a collector of European classics, or anyone who appreciates secondary ore minerals. Priced at $2,200.