Description
This malachite is from the New Cornelia Mine in Ajo, Ajo Mountains, Ajo Mining District, Pima County, Arizona. This is a large open pit operation mined primarily for the recovery of copper, silver and gold ores. It contains over 80 different mineral species including malachite. This particular specimen was part of a find of malachite replacements of large rhombic azurite crystals. This piece consists of several well defined interpenetrating blocky crystals of azurite that have been replaced by crystallized malachite with a velvet-like texture on the surface. There are also some areas that are either replaced or partially covered with deposits of black tenorite. This piece is good on all sides and the base contains a minor deposit of the former sandstone matrix. It measures 1 15/16 x 1 15/16 x 1 1/4 inches or 49 x 49 x 32 mm.
