Description
This malachite and chrysocolla are from the Star of the Congo Mine (L’Etoile du Congo Mine) in Lubumbashi, Katanga, Katanga Copper Cresent Zaire.There are over 100 different mines and diggings in this area with 10 large operations Including the Star of the Congo. Local people mine in the closed location for a long list of mineral specimens including secondary minerals such as malachite. It is a copper carbonate (Cu, C, H) that is found in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies. It consists of a stratified copper mineral matrix that is topped with exceptional blue chrysocolla (CU, Al, Si, H, and O) and green malachite.They have small euhedral habits and form glistening ball-like clusters on top of the chrysocolla. This piece measures 2 3/4 x 1 5/8 x 1 inches or 70 x 41 x 25 mm.
