MUN16-19
Aurichalcite
79 mine, Gila County, Arizona, USA
Cabinet, 12.0 x 8.0 x 6.5 cm
Ex. Dr. HJ Wilke
SOLD

Aurichalcite from this old copper mine is justifiably famous with collectors, but few samples survive, and most are small. This is a really quite unusual, large specimen for the species and locality! It features two styles of crystallization aesthetically and colorfully displayed in a vuggy boxwork matrix which is the host for both the lustrous, spherical aggregates of light blue-green aurichalcite to 5 mm across; and the gorgeous acicular sprays of richer blue-green crystals to 7 mm in length. An unusually large specimen, preserved in unusually good condition. This likely came out in the 1960s or 1970s and was sold at Tucson to German collector Dr. HJ Wilke (whose collection recently sold).