Chrysocolla pseudomorph after Azurite (RARE locality specimen) (ex Robertson and Reynolds Collections)

Item Description

A real beauty from Bisbee, that reminds one of somewhat similar specimens from the Ray Mine or the Inspiration Mine, but VERY hard to find from Bisbee in my experience. This miniature sized specimen features many crystals of what were originally Azurite, but have been pseudomorphed by dark green Chrysocolla. You might think that green mineral is Malachite, but I looked at it closely, and the luster is more greasy / waxy (not velvety like Malachite), and it's smooth and almost "bubbly" in areas, which you simply don't see from Malachite. We've taken some close up photos to better illustrate the clear visual difference between the Chrysocolla on this piece and Malachite. You can also see from the close up photos that the original Azurite crystals are notably sharp and distinct, and not distorted or "muddled" after being pseudomorphed by the Chrysocolla. Additionally, you can see there is a thin layer of blue Azurite remaining underneath the Chrysocolla, so it's not fully pseudomorphed. If you collect Bisbee material, worldwide pseudomorphs or unusual locality specimens, don't miss out on this attractive and good quality example from this most famous historic mining district in southern Arizona. This piece comes to us from the collection of Bob Reynolds, well-known fossil and mineral expert and former Curator of Earth Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum in California. Originally the specimen was in the collection of Kay Robertson (#1377). Kay was a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics. She nearly lived 100 years from April 1920 - March 2020. See the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record ( https://www.mineralogicalrecord.com/pdfs/Kay%20Robertson%20Collection.pdf ), and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017.