View full screen - View 1 of Lot 64. Primary Malachite.

Primary Malachite

No reserve

Lot Closed

December 3, 08:04 PM GMT

Estimate

900 - 1,500 USD

Lot Details

Description

Primary Malachite

Mashamba West Mine, Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo


5¼ by 3¼ by 2¾ inches (13.5 x 8.2 x 6.7 cm). Custom lucite base.


This specimen features multiple acicular sprays of crystallized, grass green primary malachite.

Ranging from light to deep, rich greens, malachite is an opaque and banded copper carbonate hydroxide that often forms stalagmitic and/or botryoidal ("bunch of grapes") masses. Individual crystals are rare, but when they do occur—as demonstrated by the unique specimen offered here—they appear as beautifully slender, needle-like prisms.