Chrysocolla ps. after Malachite ps. after Azurite

An outstanding cabinet-size, double pseudomorph of intense sky-blue Chrysocolla replacing Malachite after Azurite and coated in Quartz, from a magnificent recent find in the Tenke-Fungurume area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in central Africa.  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.  Whereas most specimens from this find are coated in clear, colourless, drusy Quartz, this has a completely different look due to a pervasive coating of iron-tinged Quartz.  The Chrysocolla is a stunning intense sky-blue and throughout the base can be seen remnant patches and bands of mid to dark leaf-green Malachite.  The pseudomorphed crystals measure up to at least 4 cm long but are more typically about 2 cm.  The entire specimen is coated in a druse of micro-crystalline colourless and pinkish milk chocolate-brown Quartz which gives a magnificent sparkle.  This was a particularly good find of Chrysocolla pseudomorphing after Malachite and Malachite after Azurite, with an aesthetic elevated by the sugary coating of gemmy Quartz.  Superb!