Description
This malachite and chrysocolla is from the Star of the Congo Mine, Lubumbashi, Katanga Copper Cresent, Katanga, Zaire. This mine is abandoned but is still worked by the local population for the recovery of mineral specimens. Malachite is a carbonate containing the elements Cu, C, O and H. It is a secondary mineral found in weathered copper ore deposits. Chrysocolla is a secondary silicate containing the elements Cu, Al, H, Si and O. It is commonly found in association with malachite. This specimen consists of a breccia tuff matrix with a geode-like formation of multiple generations of chrysocolla and druse malachite crystals. The malachite has a glistening luster and sugary texture. There is also minor tenorite on the piece. This piece measures 3 x 3 x 1 3/4 ” or 76 x 76 x 44 mm.
