Chrysocolla with Malachite

Item Description

A great, classic association stone from Arizona. This beautiful and colorful "Oval Cabochon" cut gem is a great representative stone from this famous Copper producing state. The stone shows beautiful hues of strong blue Chrysocolla with green Malachite and what appears to be small spots of Native Copper. For the $100 starting bid, the stone is priced at just over $2 per carat, which is WELL below wholesale for the material. A very cool stone of this well-known and somewhat 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.