Product Details

Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo Add a masterpiece of natural geometry and vibrant color to your collection with this exquisite polished specimen. Sourced from the Katanga Copper Crescent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, this piece features a breathtaking synergy of sky-blue Chrysocolla and deep-green Malachite. Chrysocolla ($Cu_{2-x}Al_x(H_2-Si_2O_5)(OH)_4 \cdot nH_2O$)Nature: Chrysocolla is a hydrated copper phyllosilicate. It is often technically a "mineraloid" rather than a true mineral because it frequently lacks a coherent crystalline structure, appearing in amorphous, massive forms.Characteristics: Known for its striking cyan-blue to turquoise color. On the Mohs scale, it is quite soft (2.0 to 4.0), but in high-quality specimens like this one, it is often "silicated" (infused with quartz), which increases its hardness and allows it to take a beautiful polish.Formation: It forms when copper-bearing solutions react with silica-rich water.Malachite ($Cu_2CO_3(OH)_2$)Nature: Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral. It is famous for its "botryoidal" habit—growing in rounded, grape-like clusters that create stunning concentric rings and swirls when cut and polished.Characteristics: It possesses a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4.0 and a light green streak. Its deep green color is constant and does not fade, derived entirely from its high copper content (approx. 57%).Formation: Malachite forms through the carbonation of copper ores. It is frequently found alongside Chrysocolla and Azurite, often replacing them over time in a process called pseudomorphism.