Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite?

tribeunited driving up their electric bill Not all materials look exactly the same. But all exact materials are exactly the same. Member since May 2024 Posts: 2,004	Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 14, 2024 20:58:09 GMT -5 Brian and chris1956 like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by tribeunited on Aug 14, 2024 20:58:09 GMT -5 Big 15lb chunk of rough. I think its azurite and possibly chrysocolla or malachite. Here's a photo of the sides and such:
	Last Edit: Aug 14, 2024 21:16:36 GMT -5 by tribeunited

tribeunited driving up their electric bill Not all materials look exactly the same. But all exact materials are exactly the same. Member since May 2024 Posts: 2,004	Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 14, 2024 22:07:44 GMT -5 chris1956 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by tribeunited on Aug 14, 2024 22:07:44 GMT -5 Adding some photos I took looking into the cracks in the rock. We are thinking of breaking it open:

bikergunnut off to a rocking start Member since March 2024 Posts: 7	Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 14, 2024 22:42:40 GMT -5 tribeunited likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by bikergunnut on Aug 14, 2024 22:42:40 GMT -5 Before you grab a hammer, find a mechanic with a borescope to peek inside.

hummingbirdstones
misunderstood rock expert

Member since October 2017
Posts: 14,123

Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 14, 2024 23:19:55 GMT -5 rockjunquie and tribeunited like this

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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 14, 2024 23:19:55 GMT -5

Looks like Azurite, Gem Silica and Malachite to me (and maybe some Tenorite). Please don't smash it! It's way too cool of a specimen and if you smash it any worth it has will be gone.

Robin

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

-- C.S. Lewis

vegasjames
no longer being taken for granite

Member since June 2013
Posts: 9,559

Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 14, 2024 23:43:08 GMT -5 rockjunquie, hummingbirdstones, and 1 more like this

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Post by vegasjames on Aug 14, 2024 23:43:08 GMT -5

Mainly azurite and malachite, which are generally found together as azurite converts in to malachite.

The lighter, clear blue looks like "silicated chrysocolla", which is not really chrysocolla, but rather chalcedony stained by copper salts.

tribeunited
driving up their electric bill

Not all materials look exactly the same. But all exact materials are exactly the same.

Member since May 2024
Posts: 2,004

Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 15, 2024 13:01:37 GMT -5 vegasjames and hummingbirdstones like this

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Post by tribeunited on Aug 15, 2024 13:01:37 GMT -5

Welcome to the forun bikergunnut - good to have you here! I don't know any mechanic, I wonder if i have a borescope somewhere. I actually have something similar for plumbing but I think it is too large for looking in these cracks. I'll look for that.

hummingbirdstones - thank you! I was thinking the same on the tenorite - the black spots that appear on it. Really? Don't open it? It's 15 pounds - can something this size be a specimen?

vegasjames - as always, you come in and blind me with science. Thanks for always helping out where you can.

To anyone - I'm not disagreeing with hummingbirdstones - I am only asking how someone would determine whether there is something inside worth cracking open to see? (that's why you got photos in the cracks.) The weight makes me think it's solid inside and hummingbirdstones is likely correct.

Knowing nothing about the formation of these minerals, I don't know if these (malachite/azurite/silicated chrysicolla only grow on exposed areas or if they can also be inside. (like how thick/deep does this stuff go I guess)

I guess I'm saying - I have a very strong urge to see this slabbed. Don't worry Robin, I won't, but I'm seriously dying to see what's inside. Like dying. Literally. I might have to put in somewhere where I can't see it so I don't do something stupid.

Thanks again for clearing this up.

rockjunquie Global Moderator Member since March 2012 Posts: 34,951	Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 15, 2024 22:00:21 GMT -5 tribeunited likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockjunquie on Aug 15, 2024 22:00:21 GMT -5 I would slab it. That's a fine piece. Love the bumpy stuff (botryoidal stuff).

bikergunnut off to a rocking start Member since March 2024 Posts: 7	Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 15, 2024 23:55:13 GMT -5 tribeunited likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by bikergunnut on Aug 15, 2024 23:55:13 GMT -5 If I was going to cut it, I would cut the top half off (second picture). Worse case you would have a shelf display with a flat bottom. Best would be a surprise inside.

hummingbirdstones
misunderstood rock expert

Member since October 2017
Posts: 14,123

Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 15, 2024 23:58:15 GMT -5 tribeunited likes this

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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 15, 2024 23:58:15 GMT -5

If it's solid inside it might make amazing slabs. Maybe cut it in half to see if it is. I was just picturing you whacking it with a sledge hammer to see what was inside. (scared011)

Robin

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."

-- C.S. Lewis

tribeunited
driving up their electric bill

Not all materials look exactly the same. But all exact materials are exactly the same.

Member since May 2024
Posts: 2,004

Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 16, 2024 15:32:10 GMT -5 rockjunquie, hummingbirdstones, and 1 more like this

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Post by tribeunited on Aug 16, 2024 15:32:10 GMT -5

Aug 15, 2024 23:58:15 GMT -5 hummingbirdstones said:

If it's solid inside it might make amazing slabs. Maybe cut it in half to see if it is. I was just picturing you whacking it with a sledge hammer to see what was inside. (scared011)

A chisel and a sledgehammer - that sounds like me

*sigh* yeah, it truly does.

I've decided this isn't going anywhere... it can wait until I know a lot more about slabbing.

Thanks bikergunnut and rockjunquie - I'm making this a future charity problem

chris1956
driving up their electric bill

Member since July 2022
Posts: 2,391

Azurite and Chrysocolla or Malachite? Aug 16, 2024 18:06:38 GMT -5 hummingbirdstones and tribeunited like this

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Post by chris1956 on Aug 16, 2024 18:06:38 GMT -5

Aug 16, 2024 15:32:10 GMT -5 tribeunited said:

Aug 15, 2024 23:58:15 GMT -5 hummingbirdstones said:

If it's solid inside it might make amazing slabs. Maybe cut it in half to see if it is. I was just picturing you whacking it with a sledge hammer to see what was inside. (scared011)

A chisel and a sledgehammer - that sounds like me

*sigh* yeah, it truly does.

I've decided this isn't going anywhere... it can wait until I know a lot more about slabbing.

Thanks bikergunnut and rockjunquie - I'm making this a future charity problem

Good idea.