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22 August 2026

We are excited to add this fine specimen from Tsumeb’s first oxidation zone, courtesy of its owner Paul Melville.

Azurite (w. malachite after azurite and bayldonite (?) after mimetite; 75mm. Paul Melville Collection and photo.

Bright, lustrous crystals of azurite, replaced to varying degrees by malachite, on a matrix of bayldonite (?) and / or arsentsumebite (?), much of which is pseudomorphous after mimetite. The specimen measures 75 mm across.

The paragenesis is typical – diagnostic even – of the upper part of the first oxidation zone and this particular example is accompanied by an interesting and unusual provenance. Paul acquired it from Dan Wenrich who was dispersing a number of specimens from the collection of German industrialist and politician Otto Gruson (1863-1929). Gruson’s label (in German), which is pasted into the specimen’s card tray, appears to provide an insight into the mode of occurrence. It translates as: “Occurrence: In the metasomatic copper-ore deposit, in cavities in lumps and nests of copper ore which occur together with sand in the limestone.” A label on the underside of the box tells us that Gruson acquired the specimen from dealer Arthur Kusche (of Munich) in August 1913, for a price of 18 Marks.

In 1913, underground mining at Tsumeb was only down to 6 Level (approximately 160 m below the surface), so the provenance also dates the specimen unequivocally to the upper levels. Please see TSNB998 for further images and details.