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PSEUDOMORPH MALACHITE CUPRITE

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PSEUDOMORPH MALACHITE CUPRITE

A rare Australian mineral specimen of Pseudomorph Malachite Cuprite.  You can clearly see that the Malachite is not in one of its natural forms, but instead is more like cuprite or copper.  A pseudomorph is when one mineral is chemically replaced by another mineral without changing the external form of the original mineral.  In this case the Malachite has replaced the original Cuprite mineral.  There is also Smithsonite on this specimen.   A very collectible piece, both for that fact is a pseudomorph and also because it is a rare mineral from a great location.  An excellent gift or treat for the mineral collector and a must for the Australian Collection.   This oresome mineral specimen is mounted on perspex to go straight into your cabinet.

Dimensions:
7cm x 4cm x 2.5cm, 90g

Location:
Block 14 Open Cut, South Mine, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia

Malachite: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2

Smithsonite: ZnCO3

 

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PSEUDOMORPH MALACHITE CUPRITEPSEUDOMORPH MALACHITE CUPRITE

A rare Australian mineral specimen of Pseudomorph Malachite Cuprite.  You can clearly see that the Malachite is not in one of its natural forms, but instead is more like cuprite or copper.  A pseudomorph is when one mineral is chemically replaced by another mineral without changing the external form of the original mineral.  In this case the Malachite has replaced the original Cuprite mineral.  There is also Smithsonite on this specimen.   A very collectible piece, both for that fact is a pseudomorph and also because it is a rare mineral from a great location.  An excellent gift or treat for the mineral collector and a must for the Australian Collection.   This oresome mineral specimen is mounted on perspex to go straight into your cabinet.

Dimensions:
7cm x 4cm x 2.5cm, 90g

Location:
Block 14 Open Cut, South Mine, Broken Hill, NSW, Australia

Malachite
Copper Carbonate Hydroxide:
Cu2(CO3)(OH)2.

Malachite is a green, very common secondary copper mineral with a widely variable habit. Typically it is found as crystalline aggregates or crusts, often banded in appearance, like agates. It is also often found as botryoidal clusters of radiating crystals, and as mammillary aggregates as well.  Named in antiquity by Pliny the Elder 79 CE as molochitus after the Greek ”mallows” in allusion to the green colour of the leaves.  Known in the new spelling, malachites, at least by 1661.  Malachite is a green and common secondary copper mineral with widely variable habit.  Frequently found as a pseudomorph after Azurite crystals, which are generally more tabular in shape.

Smithsonite: ZnCO3

Smithsonite is named after James Smithson, the founder of the Smithsonian Institution.  In addition to wonderful luster also has a varied colour assortment.  Smithsonite is often found as a secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of zinc ore deposits. It can also be observed in sedimentary deposits and as a direct oxidation product of sphalerite.

Check out more Australian Minerals here.

Weight110 g
Dimensions10 × 10 × 10 cm

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