Chrysocolla with Malachite, Azurite & Cobaltoan Calcite

Description

Sculptural turquoise-blue druse meets darker green copper-mineral areas and subtle pink accents in this small Kolwezi display specimen.

This 60 g specimen from the Kolwezi area in the Democratic Republic of Congo displays rounded, sparkling turquoise-blue growth with darker green and brown areas. Pale pink accents add another note of colour to its open, sculptural form.

The supplied identification lists Chrysocolla with Malachite, relict Azurite and Cobaltoan Calcite. The colour and texture can be seen in the photographs and short video; the mineral identities and proposed formation sequence have not been independently tested.

The finer crystalline growth described here adds another scale of detail to the specimen. Many small faces contribute to the sparkling surface, while the larger outline establishes its overall form. That combination is worth appreciating beyond the main colour: surface texture, spacing and the distribution of growth all help distinguish this individual piece.

The recorded Malachite adds a second copper-mineral character to the specimen. Its green areas contrast with the other growth and help define boundaries, recesses and changes in texture. This relationship is an important part of the piece’s appeal: the minerals remain together on their natural setting, making it interesting for an association collection as well as for its principal mineral.

The accompanying Calcite contributes a different crystal habit and surface character to the specimen. Its lighter or more translucent areas provide a contrast with the other recorded growth, allowing their separate outlines to be followed. The association is worth appreciating as a whole, with the arrangement and contact between the minerals adding detail beyond the featured crystals alone.

Chrysocolla is a copper-bearing hydrated silicate material commonly found in the oxidised portions of copper deposits. Blue and green colours are characteristic, and it often occurs as coatings, rounded growth or more massive material rather than prominent free-standing crystals. Its appeal is therefore frequently about colour distribution and surface texture.

A Chrysocolla specimen can show broad areas of colour interrupted by the natural host material or by other recorded copper minerals. These boundaries give the piece depth and make its mineral setting part of the display. Comparing the coloured surface with the outline of the whole specimen is especially useful here: a pleasing aggregate need not rely on large individual crystals.

The recorded origin is Kolwezi area, Lualaba Province, DR Congo. Within a collection of Chrysocolla specimens, this locality gives the piece a geographical identity alongside its particular crystal habit and natural setting.

The specimen measures 6.2 × 4.3 × 4 cm, with a recorded weight of 60 g. The proportions give a useful guide to its place in a display, with the individual crystal arrangement and mineral association remaining the principal points of interest.

Condition: Please examine the five photographs and video for natural surfaces and contacts. The exact specimen photographed is offered for sale. It is shown on a clear display base; contact us to confirm whether the base is included.

Care: Handle gently from the sturdy matrix and avoid water or chemical cleaners on the delicate druse.