Excellent complimentary pair of sliced Malachite and Azurite



Malachite

Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
System:Monoclinic
Colour:Bright green, with ...
Hardness:3½ - 4
Streak:Light green
Malachite is a green, very common secondary copper mineral with a widely variable habit. Typically it is found as crystalline aggregates or crusts, often banded in appearence, like agates. It is also often found as botryoidal clusters of radiating crystals, and as mammillary aggregates as well.

Azurite 

Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
System:Monoclinic
Colour:Azure blue, blue, light ...
Lustre:Vitreous
Hardness:3½ - 4
A secondary copper mineral frequently found in the oxidized zones of Cu-bearing ore deposits.

Photo

Locality: Inyo County, California, USA 
Size: 2.3 x 2.0 x 0.9 cm
(largest). A showy and excellent complimentary pair of sliced and polished malachite and azurite nodules from an uncommon locality for the species - Inyo County, California. Both nodules have an azurite rind. The azurite nodule has beautiful, multi-hued blue banding, reminiscent of the well-known Bisbee nodules. The malachite-rich side of the nodule has a more unusual, radial, bladed look to it. Ex. P. Kellinghausen of Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Copyright © Rob Lavinsky

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