Azurite altering to Malachite Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto...
Azurite altering to Malachite Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia "The specimen is in three parts that when assembled is about 11 cm long. The crystal is mostly azurite but some alteration to malachite has taken place. The three pieces of the crystal are numbered 3732A (214 gm), 3732B (78.0 gm) and 3732C (40.2 gm). Bought the specimen from Clive Queit in Tsumeb. This is a really strange specimen and showing it to people and putting it back together for them always amazes them." - Rock H. Currier "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy" -Hamlet The truth of those lines can be seen in this rather strange composite crystal of Azurite from Tsumeb. In this case, a previously whole Azurite prism was fractured through mechanisms unknown, leaving three pieces instead of the original one. The fact that this occurred before miners ever got to it, is shown by the thin alteration layer lining the sides of the breaks. Question: Why isn't it otherwise damaged? Answer: We don't know. This is a four-inch mystery worthy of Shakespeare himself. Overall Measurements: 4.3 x 2.2 x 1.2 inches (11.0 x 5.5 x 3.0 cm) Offered at no reserve Provenance: Bought from Clive Queit [RHC #3732, acquired 1979] [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]
HID09710052018
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
View it on
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
Azurite altering to Malachite Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia "The specimen is in three parts that when assembled is about 11 cm long. The crystal is mostly azurite but some alteration to malachite has taken place. The three pieces of the crystal are numbered 3732A (214 gm), 3732B (78.0 gm) and 3732C (40.2 gm). Bought the specimen from Clive Queit in Tsumeb. This is a really strange specimen and showing it to people and putting it back together for them always amazes them." - Rock H. Currier "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy" -Hamlet The truth of those lines can be seen in this rather strange composite crystal of Azurite from Tsumeb. In this case, a previously whole Azurite prism was fractured through mechanisms unknown, leaving three pieces instead of the original one. The fact that this occurred before miners ever got to it, is shown by the thin alteration layer lining the sides of the breaks. Question: Why isn't it otherwise damaged? Answer: We don't know. This is a four-inch mystery worthy of Shakespeare himself. Overall Measurements: 4.3 x 2.2 x 1.2 inches (11.0 x 5.5 x 3.0 cm) Offered at no reserve Provenance: Bought from Clive Queit [RHC #3732, acquired 1979] [Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]
HID09710052018
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
