Sometimes a specimen can be a hybrid of the natural mineral and a lapidary piece of art, and that is what we have here in this fantasy carving by well known lapidary artist, Budd Standley of Phoenix. The specimen is from amazing older finds at this copper mine in China and features gorgeous deep blue clusters of azurite, shimmering like sugar, against velvety malachite. He has carefully polished the flat surface to show the internal patterns of the rock, the ore of copper in this mine. The contrasts of crystal and vein create a unique, colorful specimen. I have bought several of these over the years but they are rare in this quality, and it takes a skilled artist to carve and cut in just the right place to preserve the natural pocket within the larger piece.