Malachite ("Primary" Malachite)

Item Description

A very attractive specimen of Malachite from the now famous discovery of 2007 at Milpillas. Although there were many of these specimens available a few years ago, fine quality, undamaged display specimens were few and far between. This specimen hosts fine quality, velvety, forest-green radial groups and actual thin needles / crystals (!) of Malachite forming an aesthetic display piece. Minor matrix can be seen on the underside of the specimen. Now it is important to note that you will see this material labeled as "Primary Malachite" often on the market, but this is a misleading term. All Malachite forms as the result of the alteration of another mineral, so it's not deposited in a primary sense like other minerals. Even though actual crystals of Malachite exist in the world, they are still derived from another copper bearing species, whether it be a sulfide like Chalcopyrite or another carbonate like Azurite. With that said, people will see this material labeled as "primary" and potentially make the wrong assumption about how it formed, but it has become the common term used to describe any kind of Malachite that shows acicular / "needle"-like growth or full-blown crystallization where no other species are present. If you collect secondary ore minerals, worldwide Malachite or specifically pieces from the Milpillas Mine, do NOT miss out on this showy and top notch display specimen. The oxidized zone at Milpillas is finished, and specimens like this will never be found again, so they will only increase in both value and scarcity on the market.