Malachite

The L'Etoile du Congo mine (Star of Congo mine) in the Katanga Copper Crescent is one of the most famous mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as both the Belgian Congo and Zaire. This mine is now long since abandoned and leaves a legacy of a short yet impressive list of classic mineral species, Malachite being one of its classics. The Malachite on this splendid specimen forms as botryoidal mounds, all of very differing shape and size lining an 11 x 7 cm shallow open vug in a cream, black and tan matrix. The Malachite is a subdued emerald green with a matt, non-reflective lustre, although when viewed under low magnification, does display a mild twinkling lustre. It’s a showy cabinet specimen and a great representative example from this classic locality.