Primary Malachite in pocket

Item Description

A gorgeous, bright green spray of primary Malachite nestled safely in a pocket of matrix from Kerrouchene, Morocco, which is more known for small clusters of free floating malachite than for large matrix specimens. The stunning fan of crystals measures 4 cm tall and about 5 cm across and is composed of a myriad of acicular (needle-like) crystals in just slightly divergent orientation, that just shimmer with any incident light! The terminations of all three are like a tightly bundled artist's brush - very unique and , as they are protected in this pocket, undamaged. The big beautiful Malachite sits almost centered on the elongate vuggy, tan to brown-orange, locally iron-stained, silicified matrix. It is a beautiful, contrasting, large display specimen. Note that primary Malachite is actually relatively rare in crystals of this size - most of what you see and think of as large Malachite crystals are really replacements (pseudomorphs) after azurite. Thus, when we say this is a 4-5 cm primary Malachite, that actually is important and a source of value, as this size and quality is rare. Most primary malachite is rounded, botryoidal carpets, or stalactitic growths, or small crystals seldom reaching this size. Valued $4000-5000.