Detailed information
Species
Atacamite, Azurite, Malachite
Dimensions
60 x 96 x 39
mm
Weight
240 g
Locality
Mount Oxide Copper mine Mount Gordon, Gunpowder District City of Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia
Condition
No recorded repairs
This fine older specimen of secondary copper mineralization from Mount Oxide copper mine in Queensland, Australia, is from the David Hardman collection (no. 1209). It is small cabinet in size and consists of a pale grey-white clay matrix richly veined with massive blue Azurite. On one side - the display surface - a larger vein has been split open to reveal a 9.5 x 4 cm area coated with finely crystalline intergrown velvety Malachite and Atacamite. At first glace it is not easy to tell them apart, but the Malachite is a slightly paler green, silky, and forms fan-like aggregates whilst the Atacamite crystals are a deeper emerald-green, to slightly bluish green, with a glassy lustre and transparency. The detail of this specimen is best seen with magnification although it is colourful and does stand out from distance. For its age (probably 30 to 40 years) it is in great condition, free from any surface dust.
