Olivenite and Malachite

Item Description

Two different generations of olivenite distinctively and richly cover the green malachite crust on the interesting large quartz pebble conglomerate matrix plate from this well-known extinct French copper mine. Striking, tiny spherical aggregates, on the upper right, of lustrous, rich emerald-green olivenite crystals are richly and dramatically peppered on the contrasting malachite crust. The left side of the piece is densely festooned with scintillating, olive-green olivenite microcrystals on the barely visible malachite crust. This noted underground mine closed in 1917. Ex Paul Zerfass Collection No. 1619. The mine is well-known for its extensive suite of copper-bearing minerals and this is a fine, rich and showy large 2-generation olivenite with malachite specimen.