azurite (w. wulfenite)

TSNB708
Specimen
Von Karabacek, H.
Exhibit 1. Azurite (w. wulfenite); 75 mm.
Exhibit 1. Azurite (w. wulfenite); 75 mm.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 2. Azurite (w. wulfenite); 75 mm.
Exhibit 2. Azurite (w. wulfenite); 75 mm.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 3. Azurite (w. wulfenite); 75 mm.
Exhibit 3. Azurite (w. wulfenite); 75 mm.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 4. 25 mm field of view.
Exhibit 4. 25 mm field of view.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Thumbnail by 1Thumbnail by 2Thumbnail by 3Thumbnail by 4

Specimen Title

azurite (w. wulfenite)

Associated Minerals

conichalcite-duftite (?); gartrellite (?); malachite; wulfenite

Principal Mineral

Azurite

Size

Cabinet; 75mm

Location in the Mine

First oxidation zone

Provenance

Von Karabacek, H.

Collection

MGMH; 93562

Entry Number

Specimen; TSNB708

Description

A parallel stack of lustrous, blue-black, tabular azurite crystals (to 30 mm). Lustre notwithstanding, the crystals have a somewhat etched appearance due to a combination of striations and growth steps on certain faces (exhibits 2 and 3). The matrix consists largely of massive azurite with minor malachite, thinly encrusted with yellow and green arsenate minerals – possibly gartrellite (?) and conichalcite-duftite (?) respectively, but these have not been verified. An aggregate of colourless wulfenite crystals (to 4 mm) adheres to one of the azurite blades (upper right in Exhibit 3), and individual pale orange wulfenite crystals rest on both the arsenate crust and on one of the azurite crystals (Exhibit 4).


The specimen was number 4337 in the collection of Austrian industrialist Hans von Karabacek, part of who’s collection was purchased for Harvard University in 1935. The specimen is therefore unequivocally from the first oxidation zone.