chatoyant Malachite ps. Azurite with Azurite

Item Description

This is, quite literally, one of the few most famous of all Tsumeb classics - replacements of large azurite crystals by chatoyant, velvety malachite. This is a look unique to Tsumeb! One large and several small, vibrantly colored pseudomorphs of Malachite after Azurite are present on this lovely piece. The original forms of the Azurite crystals are well preserved although totally altered to Malachite now. The largest crystal measures 6.2 cm and the smaller ones average around 1 cm and all of them exhibit a chatoyant effect due to the radial fibrous structure of the Malachite, which shows a delightful, variegated bright medium and dark green colors. This phenomenon is highly desirable and is not often seen in Tsumeb pseudomorphs. A few dozen, lustrous blue, 2-4 mm Azurite crystals are sprinkled on the surface of the pseudomorphs. The backside of the specimen shows contrasting, off-white, polycrystalline aggregates of Cerussite along with a few Azurite crystals. Many of the pseudomorphs like this are from the first oxidation zone at Tsumeb which dates this prior to the 1930s. A very handsome small cabinet piece! We sold it to Dr. Pohl through an intermediary back in 2003 or so, and it came from an old collection purchased in Namibia by Marshall and Charlotte Sussman.