Chrysocolla ps. after Malachite ps. after Azurite with Quartz

Pseudomorphs of intense sky-blue Chrysocolla replacing Malachite after Azurite and coated in Quartz form an extraordinary spectacular and aesthetic specimen from the magnificent recent find in the Tenke-Fungurume area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Central Africa.  At least 24 former Azurite crystals, now pseudomorphed to Chrysocolla, form a radiating hedgehog-like specimen of spiky crystals coated with drusy lustrous Quartz, covering a 6.5 x 5 cm matrix.  The tabular Chrysocolla crystals taper to form either Gothic-style arches or more gently rounded terminations, all of which are entirely coated with sparkling micro-Quartz crystals with a bright glassy lustre.  The Chrysocolla is a stunning sky-blue, enhanced by the Quartz coating and in small patches the Quartz adopts a slight greyish-lemon tinge.  The largest pseudomorphs stand vertically and measure 3.5 cm tall.  The surrounding, more radial crystals average 1 to 2 cm long.  The underside of the base reveals a matrix of two halves: one side being a pinkish-tan porous Dolostone and the opposite side a rich mix of leaf-green earthy Malachite and deep turquoise-blue Chrysocolla.  The Tenke-Fungurume area delineates a 30 km copper-cobalt mineralised zone between Tenke hill in the NW and Fungurume hill in the SE of the Kolwezi mining district.  The region holds large ore reserves and to date a suite of 31 minerals have been recorded, including some exceedingly rare copper species.  This is an impressive and remarkable pseudomorph from the Kolwezi mining district of the DRC.