Malachite

A lovely miniature of lustrous intergrown Malachite crystals of dark emerald green verging on black, with lighter leaf green edges.  From Onganja and most probably the Onganja mine on Helen Farm 235, by the hamlet of Seeis in the Windhoek District of Namibia.  The Malachite crystals measure to 0.5 cm and have a sharp, blocky habit.  This is primary Malachite, meaning the crystals are those of Malachite and not a replacement habit such as a pseudomorph.  The intense darkness of the Malachite contrasts well against the translucent to opaque Calcite matrix, with a partial coverage of micro-scalenohedral Calcite crystals.