Azurite

TSNB707
Specimen
Von Karabacek, H.
Exhibit 1. Azurite; 145 mm.
Exhibit 1. Azurite; 145 mm.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 2. 55 mm field of view.
Exhibit 2. 55 mm field of view.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
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Specimen Title

Azurite

Associated Minerals

malachite; quartz; undetermined

Principal Mineral

Azurite

Size

Cabinet; 145mm

Location in the Mine

First oxidation zone

Provenance

Von Karabacek, H.

Collection

MGMH; 93556

Entry Number

Specimen; TSNB707

Description

Bright, blue-black sheaves of tabular azurite crystals (to 20 mm) on a matrix of Cu/Pb arsenates (undetermined) with quartz and minor malachite. The azurite is pristine, with an adamantine lustre right across the specimen, but with just a very few isolated crystals completely altered to malachite (Exhibit 2).

The specimen was number 4470 in the collection of Austrian industrialist Hans von Karabacek, part of which was purchased by Harvard University in 1935, thereby dating it unequivocally to the first oxidation zone.