4.1" Azurite, Malachite, Hemimorphite and Rosasite Association - Utah

Rosasite is a secondary mineral that forms in oxidation zones of copper-zinc deposits, generally forming a fibrous botryoidal sphere that can appear vitreous and silky. While typically featuring a blue-green color, colorless specimens are not unheard of. The chemical formula of rosasite is CuZnCO3(OH)2.

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, a banded pattern can sometimes begin to take shape, which explains the rings in all shades of green that are 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 it's value as a decorative stone, it's rarely mined as a copper ore anymore.

Hemimorphite is a basic hydrous zinc silicate with the chemical composition Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O. It earned its name from the structure of which the crystals form, through greek terminology. It has two different terminations on each side of the crystal, hence the inclusion of the greek terms "hemi", meaning half and "morph", meaning shape. The crystal formations can range anywhere between a crystal druze or botryoidal formation, to radiating acicular crystals, and more. The color of these crystals have been found to be white, beige, light brown and blue. On rare occasions, yellow and green crystals have been found.

Prior to 1803, hemimorphite and smithsonite were thought to be the same mineral called "calamine". However, following further scientific research, it was concluded that these were two distinct minerals.

Azurite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral that is best known for it's beautiful and vibrant blue appearance, Azurite typically forms in nodular formations with other colorful, copper rich minerals. Azurite is a secondary mineral that forms in pores, crevices, and caverns as water with high concentrations of carbon-dioxide precipitate.

Azurite and malachite are known to form in union with each other, for their chemical makeup is very similar. In fact, the presence of more or less water in the location of formation, is enough to determine whether an abundance of malachite over azurite, or vise-versa, will accumulate.