Shattuckite and Malachite in quartz pocket

Item Description

Shattuckite is a rare secondary copper silicate found in the oxidation zone of copper deposits. It was actually first discovered in 1915 at Bisbee, but today it is best-known for specimens from Africa. This dramatic, rich, and very interesting small-cabinet combination piece shows exactly why Namibian Shattuckites rule. Rather than the velvety-blue crusts that you often see, this piece has outstanding, sparkling spheres of Shattuckite that reach a full 1.1 cm across. Where the Shattuckite is exposed, you can see the sharp, acicular, and radial growth, which adds a whole nother 'layer' to the beauty and interest of this specimen. Growing contemporaneously was a highly-lustrous, tabular, compound crystal of deep-green Malachite that is a full 2.2 cm across. Along the termination of the Malachite are two blue Shattuckite casts that are so very interesting and absorbing once you discover that they are actually there, so engaging is the rest of the piece. This is a great association piece whose wonderful aesthetics are bolstered by unusual forms of the Shattuckite and Malachite, and their inherent contrasts. These great combinations are often valued in the $2000-4000 range.