Azurite & Malachite - Morocco | Ref.38

This substantial association of azurite and malachite comes from Morocco and was part of an old collection.

The piece has an elongated, irregular shape, with mineralisation covering a large part of the matrix. The azurite appears in deep blue to violet-blue tones, forming compact areas and mineral crusts. It is accompanied by green malachite, developed as rounded aggregates and finely textured reliefs.

The two minerals are intergrown across the surface, creating a strong contrast between the blue tones of the azurite and the various green shades of the malachite. Some brown to orange areas of the matrix remain visible between the mineralised sections, adding further variations in colour and texture.

Azurite and malachite are two copper carbonate hydroxides commonly associated in the oxidation zones of copper deposits. Both minerals have also been used historically as raw materials for pigments: blue from azurite and green from malachite.

Measuring 190 × 80 × 100 mm and weighing 1.130 kg, this is a substantial piece well suited to display in a mineral cabinet.

Provenance: Morocco.
Origin: old collection.
Dimensions: 190 × 80 × 100 mm.
Weight: 1.130 kg.