Cuprite on Chrysocolla

The famous Mashamba West Mine in DR Congo has produced some of the finest crystallized examples of Cuprite ever known. What makes these crystals so desirable is their superb form, sharpness, luster, intense blood-red color, but they are sometimes found in association with beautifully contrasting Chrysocolla.

This small cabinet display specimen features a good-sized cluster of very sharp, lustrous, well-formed, metallic, octahedral crystals (some show dodecahedral and cubic modifying faces) sitting atop a layer of gorgeous power blue and sky blue colored botryoidal Chrysocolla on matrix. The large composite crystal of Cuprite on the top of the piece measures 2.0 cm. While most of the crystals show smooth, complete crystals faces, the large group actually shows some interesting skeletal / "hoppered" faces, as if they were almost etched, creating a very interesting effect. As with any good Cuprite, these crystals show an intense deep blood-red color when backlit, but it was difficult to illustrate in the photos. The only real damage is on the back / side of the group, where it grew against the pocket wall, and was obviously contacted.

One rarely sees such a fine quality group of Cuprite crystals like this on pleasing Chrysocolla matrix from this locality. Good specimens of this material are rarely available on the market, and if you're a fan of secondary ore minerals or specimens from DR Congo, don't miss out on this one. Hard to photograph, better in person.

Specimen #WWMIX12102