jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Dec 30, 2012 13:50:29 GMT -5
I picked up this rock from a pallet of mixed rocks because I had never seen a rock grow like this. On the same rock is azurite, chrysocolla, cuprite, and a mass of gray clay like matrix. There is a large chunk of azurite with this flowing from it. The polished look to the strands of crystals is the natural surface where it had been broken. The mix of colors on top of the azurite chunk are awesome and I`d like to cab it but I don`t want to cut it before I find out what I am dealing with. Attachments:
|
|
jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Dec 30, 2012 13:53:08 GMT -5
Here is the weathered surface of the chunk of azurite mix. Attachments:
|
|
metalsmith
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
|
Post by metalsmith on Dec 30, 2012 14:10:51 GMT -5
The clue is in the minerals it is associated with. Malachite would be the obvious answer, but surely it doesn't grow like this! It does, when it replaces the azurite, retaining the azurite crystal shape. It is then called a pseudomorph - meaning "false shape". Of course you could go ahead and cab this, but why would you? It is worth significantly more as a mineral specimen of malachite pseudomorphs! Find some other malachite to cab!
|
|
jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Dec 30, 2012 14:21:40 GMT -5
Malachite was my first thought but have never seen it growing in such a way. And the luster of it is unlike any I have ever seen. That is why it has sat on my workbench top for so long. The majority of it is Sonoran with this chunk being about 1 1/2 inches square. I would like to be able to put a label on it to put with other specimen rocks I have though. It is a fist size rock weighing app. 2 lbs.
|
|
metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
|
Post by metalsmith on Dec 30, 2012 14:25:51 GMT -5
"Pseudomorph of malachite after azurite" would be the correct, if not the shortest label!
|
|
|
|
Post by jakesrocks on Dec 30, 2012 14:28:26 GMT -5
|
|
metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
|
Post by metalsmith on Dec 30, 2012 14:37:27 GMT -5
|
|
metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
|
Post by metalsmith on Dec 30, 2012 14:50:14 GMT -5
|
|
Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,492
|
Post by Sabre52 on Dec 30, 2012 15:09:46 GMT -5
Malachite does sometimes show a fan like crystal structure. There was a copper mine in back of our ranch and I used to find malachite specimens with sort of round fan shaped sprays of crystals....Mel
|
|
jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Dec 30, 2012 16:27:48 GMT -5
You guys nailed it again! I looked at the pics with the fan like structure. They are very close to the one I have. It appears like green water squirting out of a rock in 2 directions with the flow. I had no idea it would be worth that kind of money. I`d say it was worth the $5 I paid for it! It`s going to a spot alongside other odd specimens I have collected some of which need ID`s also. Now that I have a good camera I`ll get some pics and ask the pros again. Thanks for all the great info guys! I really appreciate it.
Joe
|
|
damammy
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2009
Posts: 697
|
Post by damammy on Jan 1, 2013 13:28:56 GMT -5
Your rock looks like it could contain some galena, being a specimen people I think it is great the way it is. It would not slab well it would crumble. Donna
|
|
jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
|
Post by jspencer on Jan 1, 2013 23:59:50 GMT -5
No, it`s not getting cut. This crystal structure is attached to the chunk I was wanting to cut. But after finding out the rarity of it that idea was thrown out the window. I do however plan on entering the photo contest on minerals that someone has posted a notice about sponsored by Lapis magazine. Gonna put this new camera to work! This rock has been sitting on my workbench for a year now looking at me and saying "Look how pretty I am."
|
|
