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1.4" Azurite Sun and Malachite on Siltstone - Australia
This is a 1.4" wide, brilliant blue azurite sun on a kaolinitic siltstone/sandstone matrix. It was collected from the Malbunka Copper Mine in the Northern Territory of Australia. There are malachite formations scattered throughout the siltstone as well.
It comes with an acrylic display stand.
It comes with an acrylic display stand.
About Azurite Suns
Azurite is a vivid, deep-blue copper carbonate mineral best known for forming in the oxidized zones of copper deposits. Among its rarest and most iconic occurrences are Azurite Suns—perfectly flat, radiating crystal discs found only at the Malbunka Copper Mine in Australia’s remote Northern Territory. These striking “suns” sit within chalk-white layers of kaolinite clay, creating a dramatic contrast that highlights their rich, midnight-blue color.
Their formation is as unusual as their appearance. Mineral-rich hydrothermal fluids once flowed through narrow bedding planes in the host rock, carrying dissolved copper ions. When these ions encountered carbonate-bearing groundwater within the compact kaolinite layers, azurite began to crystallize. Confined between the clay beds, the crystals had nowhere to grow but outward, spreading laterally in a flat, radiating pattern. Over time, this process produced the circular, sun-like shapes that make Malbunka azurite suns some of the most distinctive mineral specimens on Earth.
Azurite is a vivid, deep-blue copper carbonate mineral best known for forming in the oxidized zones of copper deposits. Among its rarest and most iconic occurrences are Azurite Suns—perfectly flat, radiating crystal discs found only at the Malbunka Copper Mine in Australia’s remote Northern Territory. These striking “suns” sit within chalk-white layers of kaolinite clay, creating a dramatic contrast that highlights their rich, midnight-blue color.
Their formation is as unusual as their appearance. Mineral-rich hydrothermal fluids once flowed through narrow bedding planes in the host rock, carrying dissolved copper ions. When these ions encountered carbonate-bearing groundwater within the compact kaolinite layers, azurite began to crystallize. Confined between the clay beds, the crystals had nowhere to grow but outward, spreading laterally in a flat, radiating pattern. Over time, this process produced the circular, sun-like shapes that make Malbunka azurite suns some of the most distinctive mineral specimens on Earth.
About Malachite
Malachite is an intense green copper-based mineral that can be found in a wide variety of forms. Malachite can grow in botryoidal masses, stalactitic formations, and reniform formations, typically as a tight cluster of fanning fibrous needles that make up a seemingly solid mass. As layers continue to stack during formation, banded patterns can sometimes begin to take shape, explaining the rings in all shades of green seen on most polished malachite specimens.
Malachite results from the weathering of other copper ores, and is very often found associated with other copper-based minerals such as azurite and chrysocolla. It can be found in copper deposits around the world, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the primary source for polished malachite and mineral specimens.
Malachite has been prized since ancient times, first as a utilitarian copper ore, then as an ornamental stone. Due to its value as a decorative stone, it is rarely mined as a copper ore anymore.
Malachite is an intense green copper-based mineral that can be found in a wide variety of forms. Malachite can grow in botryoidal masses, stalactitic formations, and reniform formations, typically as a tight cluster of fanning fibrous needles that make up a seemingly solid mass. As layers continue to stack during formation, banded patterns can sometimes begin to take shape, explaining the rings in all shades of green seen on most polished malachite specimens.
Malachite results from the weathering of other copper ores, and is very often found associated with other copper-based minerals such as azurite and chrysocolla. It can be found in copper deposits around the world, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the primary source for polished malachite and mineral specimens.
Malachite has been prized since ancient times, first as a utilitarian copper ore, then as an ornamental stone. Due to its value as a decorative stone, it is rarely mined as a copper ore anymore.
SPECIES
Azurite & Malachite
LOCATION
Malbunka Copper Mine, Utju, Northern Territory, Australia
SIZE
1.4" Azurite sun on Matrix 3.4 x 3.25"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#142788
