Azurite (w. dioptase)

TSNB797
Specimen
Feinglos, M.N.Lavinsky, R.Lidstrom, W.Pinch, W.W.Smithsonian (USNM)Williams, S.J.
Exhibit 1. Azurite (w. dioptase); 50 mm.
Exhibit 1. Azurite (w. dioptase); 50 mm.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 2. Specimen label (Smithsonian - USNM).
Exhibit 2. Specimen label (Smithsonian - USNM).
Image Credit: MGMH Archive
Exhibit 3. Specimen label (S.J. Williams).
Exhibit 3. Specimen label (S.J. Williams).
Image Credit: MGMH Archive
Exhibit 4. Specimen label (Lidstrom's).
Exhibit 4. Specimen label (Lidstrom's).
Image Credit: MGMH Archive
Exhibit 5. Specimen label (W.W. Pinch).
Exhibit 5. Specimen label (W.W. Pinch).
Image Credit: MGMH Archive
Exhibit 6. Specimen data card (M.N. Feinglos).
Exhibit 6. Specimen data card (M.N. Feinglos).
Image Credit: MGMH Archive
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Specimen Title

Azurite (w. dioptase)

Associated Minerals

dioptase; goethite; malachite; quartz

Principal Mineral

Azurite

Size

Miniature; 50mm

Location in the Mine

Second oxidation zone (?)

Provenance

Smithsonian (USNM); Williams, S.J.; Lidstrom, W.; Pinch, W.W.; Lavinsky, R.; Feinglos, M.N.

Collection

MGMH; 2022.4.8325D

Entry Number

Specimen; TSNB797

Associated Minerals

dioptase; goethite; malachite; quartz

Description

Prismatic azurite crystals (to 23 mm) on an Fe-stained quartz rich matrix. The cores of the azurite crystals are extensively replaced by malachite. Resting directly on the matrix, between and around the azurites are numerous dioptase crystals (to 1.5 mm) and mats of acicular malachite (?) needles. The dioptase crystals are highly translucent but quite severely etched.

Mark Feinglos acquired this specimen from Rob Lavinsky in February 2003. It belonged formerly to the U.S. National Museum (Smithsonian; Exhibit 2); Scott J. Williams (Exhibit 3); Walt Lidstrom (Exhibit 4) and Bill Pinch (Exhibit 5).

As Feinglos remarked on his data card (Exhibit 6), this is an important specimen because the association of azurite with dioptase at Tsumeb is extremely rare. The Smithsonian catalogue number – 114693 – indicates an accession date some years before the first significant discoveries of dioptase at Tsumeb. It is notable, therefore, that the dioptase was misidentified as "tsumebite" by the specimen’s early owners. While there is no record of location in the mine, the presence of dioptase and the Smithsonian’s accession date provide circumstantial evidence that it came from the upper part of the second oxidation zone (?).