Chrysocolla with Malachite

Item Description

This is a fairly large, wonderful, old-time, classic association gem from Bisbee, Arizona. This beautiful and colorful "Pear Cabochon" cut gem is a great representative example from this famous Copper producing area. The stone shows beautiful swirling bands of deep green Malachite and blue-green Chrysocolla. A very cool example of this well-known and now difficult to obtain material.
This stone is from the estate of former Phoenix area dealer Marvin Rockey. Rockey's Gems was a significant business in the early days of Arizona lapidary material, and he was a prominent dealer and buyer in the Arizona area of local lapidary and carving material from throughout the state, including Bisbee, the Ray Mine, Miami mines, and the Peridot finds on Indian lands in the 1950s-1970s. This stone was kept back from the retail stock for its quality and beauty, in a tray of special material, and was found in his estate (sold to us only recently). Today, these are not only rarely seen but of a highly desirable old quality, and sought after by collectors and gem / jewelry enthusiasts alike.