CHRYSOCOLLA ps. after MALACHITE ps. after AZURITE with QUARTZ

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

This double pseudomorph of Chrysocolla replacing Malachite after Azurite is a particularly good example in showing the morphology (shape) of the former Azurite crystals. They form rounded spear-like tabular crystals of up to 4.5 cm tall, with at least four crystals forming a nested parallel sheet-like structure. The Chrysocolla is an intense turquoise-sky blue, whose surface is coated with glassy transparent colourless Quartz crystals which add a textured glitter to the specimen. In areas where the internal structure of the pseudomorphs can be seem, the Chrysocolla is a paler powder-sky blue and an inner core of deep emerald-green Malachite is visible. This lovely specimen is from the Tenke-Fungurume area in Kolwezi mining district of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).