Primary Malachite floater (RARE style)

Item Description

An utterly fascinating, pristine, floater, 360-degree, RARE floral style of primary malachite from the well-known Shilu Mine of China. The entire specimen is beautifully chatoyant. The striking, sculptural "front" is composed of densely intergrown, but separated, botryoids that resemble broad pollen heads of a flower (anther). The complementary back is composed of amazingly chatoyant flower "petals", that encase the pollen heads. This well-known skarn-type copper-molybdenum deposit is extinct commercially, but artisanal mining by locals has recovered more fine specimens. Botryoidal malachite of this quality and style is rare from here and this is an exceptional small cabinet example. Valued at $900.