MEXAZ-A2
Azurite
Milpillas Mine, near Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico
Small Cabinet, 6.0 x 5.0 x 4.5 cm
SOLD
These chisel-point crystals seem to be the most rare of habits of the mine, to date, from my own observations of perhaps 500 specimens in total now (most are rather flattened crystals, or stark rectangular habits). Another stunning specimen, with unusual individual crystals sticking out in three dimensions, splaying to the left and top of the matrix core. These crystals have the near-metallic, almost translucent surface sheen of blue for which this mine will someday be famous, caused by a thin secondary generation of azurite deposited over a velvety malachite pseudomorph underneath (the light shines through the thin blue, reflects off the underlaying malachite, and comes back out that shimmering blue you see hints of in these photos). MUCH MUCH BETTER In PERSON! This piece is as pristine as you could wish for, and because of its stark geometry stands out to me from most other great pieces of the find which have color but not such form to them. This one is certianly, in its size class, among the very top specimens found to my knowledge (and I have plowed the value of a large home into this hole-in-the-ground to try to keep "on top of" a portion of the find through several channels, so I HAVE seen much of it!) .