<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachite" class="extiw" title="en:Malachite">Malachite</a>
<dl><dd><dl><dd>Locality: Kasompi Mine (Menda Mine; Kasompi Hill), Swambo, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katanga" class="extiw" title="en:Katanga">Katanga (Shaba)</a>, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) (<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.mindat.org/loc-13482.html">Locality at mindat.org</a>)</dd>
<dd>Size: 12.9 x 10.8 x 9.5 cm.</dd>
<dd>This is a sculptural specimen among my favorites that came out of a pocket last fall, showing some of the best chatoyancy we have seen in malachite since old Bisbee material of the early 1900s. The piece is composed of literally hundreds of intergrown, curving clusters of needle-like malachite crystals. They are primary growth, NOT replacements of previous azurite as are so many African malachite crystals. It is EXTREMELY difficult to convey in photos how bright and metallic these crystals of primary malachite really are, that they shimmer and change in reflectivity as you turn the piece in the light. I chose a few which to me had a certain elegance of composition, and this sculptural look enhances the play of light across the crystal sprays. Even in a showcase, static and unmoving, you can see the cat’s eye-like effect as you move to look at the piece from different angles. I know it is "just malachite" to some people, but I can say I have handled thousands of malachites and rarely do I get excited. Most African material is, these days, considered "decorator level," but this pocket I think will be remembered as something that transcended the norm.</dd></dl></dd></dl>
<bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56247090" class="extiw" title="d:Q56247090"><span title="mineral collector and dealer">Robert M. Lavinsky</span></a>
</bdi>
CC BY-SA 3.0
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