Azurite with Malachite

Even if you do not collect French minerals, a specimen of Azurite from Chessy-les-Mines in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France is almost a must, for it represents one of those great and important localities of mineralogy.  The Chessy Copper Mines are the type locality of Azurite and this charming, well crystallised specimen is enhanced even further by the delicate blush of aquamarine-bluish-green Malachite beginning to replace the surfaces of the Azurite blades.  The Azurite forms unfolding splayed rosettes of tabular crystals to 1.5 cm across of inky azure-blue across a rusty coloured iron-rich matrix banded with massive Azurite and Malachite.  A striking Azurite and Malachite for both its crystal habit and colour, from the classic Chessy mines in France and ex. the Dr Josef Clemente Collection.