Copper pseudomorph after Azurite ("Copper Rose")

This is a fantastic large "floater" "Copper Rose" pseudomorph specimen from the only place in the world where they are found. The specimen is robust, eye-catching and completely undamaged. Additionally, and most importantly, the individual blades of the "rose" are incredibly SHARP and distinct, which is unlike many others I've seen from this locale, as they can be somewhat "lumpy" and rounded after they have pseudomorphed back to Copper. Also, each blade shows excellent separation from the other, so they are not tightly intergrown, which is remarkably rare in my experience with this material. Essentially there is a large central group of blades, and the smaller crystals are flaring off both sides, which allows the piece to not only show well from each direction, but the piece sits very well on its own without the aid of a base or clay. It's not easy to get your hands on a specimen this size from the Copper Rose Mine. A truly impressive and superb quality example of the well-known and now rarely seen pseudomorphs. I have to say that this is one of the best I've seen in terms of sharpness, form and crystallization.

These specimens are some of my favorite minerals in the world. They are unique in the fact that they are not only pseudomorphs, but what makes them so rare and special is the fact that you have a native metal replacing a mineral that contains that metal. Essentially these specimens started out as a deposit of Native Copper that was oxidized and combined with carbonate molecules to form crystallized "rosettes" of Azurite. Then a second deposit of Native Copper arrived, which completely coated and replaced the preexisting Azurite. It is, to the best of my knowledge, the only instance in the mineral world where a specimen starts out as a native metal, alters to a secondary mineral in an oxidized zone of said metal, and is eventually replaced by the same native metal, essentially taking it back to its original state. This is why the "Copper Roses" from New Mexico are so extraordinary.

Specimen # CUNM72009