3.2" Chatoyant Fibrous Malachite Crystal Cluster - DR Congo

This exceptional, 3.2" wide malachite specimen was collected from the Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It's comprised of countless tightly packed fibrous malachite crystals that together combine to create a botryoidal appearance, as well as an alluring chatoyance when tilting it back and forth beneath a light source.

Comes with an acrylic display stand.

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, the color may vary widely from dark to light, resulting in striking patterns of rings and bands on polished 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.
FOR SALE
$135
DETAILS
SPECIES
Malachite
LOCATION
Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
SIZE
3.2 x 2.95"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#379681