Found by Skip Szenics over several years of collecting here, this is a miniature from his persoal collection which was first sold to me at the Springfield show in the early 2000s. After trimmign it up, I sold it to a collector and it ended up with a dealer, who traded it back to me all these years later. Chrysocolla from here forms thin sheets, usually. These large spheres (this one is an inch) are very rare, and are the most desired of style from this mine. The best pieces have this intense blue color, and a thin layer of drusy quartz that gives it a sparkle; and also a "crackling" pattern that further makes it look like a blue disco ball. The combination effect is stunning! This is one of the very best balls I have seen from here over the years, all coming out through one person. I believe he sold this piece only because it was in a big ugly rock at the time, and I had to make a risky trim of it..Joe Budd Photos