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Author Topic: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla  (Read 1584 times)

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MineralSpirit

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Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« on: April 26, 2020, 06:34:04 PM »

My first time using images on this board, so let's hope this works ok. I imagine this fits here as much as anywhere. Not really carvings, but not rough or slabs either.

These are a couple of partially finished freeform pieces of azurite with malachite and chrysocolla. I've taken these up to 600 grit so far, and still obviously have some issues with flat after due to the relative softness of the stone.

About five years ago, I bought a good deal of this material which is some of the nicest azurite I've seen produced in the last 30-40 years.

This stone typically forms with a black coating of tenorite, and grinding down through that layer exposes the more colorful stone beneath. Chrysocolla is only occasionally present in this material, but where it is, it's usually just below the tenorite. All these minerals usually form around a highly brecciated brownish host rock.

I apologize for the ugly dried splotches of CA glue. The largest patches of tenorite have a tendency to flake, so I'm hoping to keep that to a minimum as I move up to finer grits

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hummingbirdstones

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2020, 07:42:18 PM »

Woot!  Absolutely gorgeous stuff!  (And now I know who you are!)   :WEEEE:
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Robin

vitzitziltecpatl

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2020, 07:46:19 PM »

Wahoo! What amazing color and pattern.

Closest thing we've ever had is some Chilean stuff sold to us by a guy who went on the lam not long after that.

MineralSpirit

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2020, 08:11:04 PM »

 :icon_thumright:

Some rocks are just hard to forget!
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Felicia

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2020, 08:19:44 PM »

Such colors!
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ileney

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2020, 10:22:28 AM »

Wow! That is stunning stuff! Can you possibly post a picture pf what it looks like raw, before revealing the colors? I've seen plenty of chrysocolla, azurite and malachite and even combinations of those things but I don't think I've seen this particular  material before.
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Ryaly2dogs

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #6 on: April 27, 2020, 02:00:42 PM »

The colors are just wow!
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irockhound

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #7 on: April 27, 2020, 09:21:49 PM »

So tasty looking.  Nothing like the rich colors of Copper materials!
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MineralSpirit

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #8 on: April 29, 2020, 09:20:30 PM »

Can you possibly post a picture pf what it looks like raw, before revealing the colors?

Here are a few more photos, the first showing the outside with black tenorite crust and the second showing the same piece cut open.

I didn't think to take more photos showing the original pieces in their rough state, but I've included one photo part way through the grinding process so you can get a feel for the process.

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irockhound

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #9 on: April 29, 2020, 09:38:37 PM »

So sweet.  Something about the blue!  I was exploring an old mine tunnel (very short- maybe 30ft) and there was an opening in the wall where 3 separate mega boulders (bigger than VW's) all came together is was a triangular opening maybe 18" on each side on the wall at the floor.  It looked innocuous.  I got down on my knees and put my flashlight inside.  OMG it was a larger cavity inside the opening.  It was all Azurite, Chrysocolla mix and just like your pieces - the COLOR.  I told my rockhound buddy to check it out and he looked inside and all the hairs on his arms stood up.  Copper is a superfood for rockhounds. 
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MineralSpirit

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2020, 05:21:39 AM »

I agree, our rock world would be a lot poorer were it not for the fantastic blues and greens of the copper minerals. I'll try to share some photos of my agatized copper minerals in a separate post.

One interesting thing one observed in this material: the chrysocolla, when it occurs, seems to blend into the azurite, but NEVER blends with the malachite. I understand that both azurite and malachite are copper carbonates, but azurite clearly plays nicely with chrysocolla (hydrous copper silicate), while malachite doesn't.

I cant explain the chemistry behind this. Are there any savants in here that would hazard a guess?
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ileney

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2020, 10:17:46 PM »

I'm afraid I don't know the answer but thank you so much for posting the pictures that show the crust. That's very impressive.
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hummingbirdstones

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Re: Some surface-ground azurite/malachite/chrysocolla
« Reply #12 on: May 02, 2020, 07:33:00 AM »

Copper minerals are my achilles heel.  Those are beautiful and make me happy just looking at them.

I think irockhound said it best.  Copper is a superfood for rockhounds.   :icon_sunny:
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Robin
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