Azurite & Malachite Botryoidal Specimen

Azurite owes its name to its beautiful azure-blue color, which makes it a very popular and well-known mineral. Large, well-formed, and deep blue crystals from Tsumeb (Namibia), Bisbee (Arizona), and Milpillas (Mexico), make exquisite collector's minerals that are regarded as some of the finest mineral masterpieces in nature. The blue color, known as "azure," is like the deep blue evening skies often seen above deserts and winter landscapes. Azurite often occurs with green Malachite, which may form green stains or specks on Azurite crystals or aggregates. Malachite is one of the oldest known green pigments to be used in paintings. It can easily be ground into a soft powder due to its low Mohs score, mixes easily with vehicles (water, oil, etc.), and retains its color when exposed to light overtime (unlike amethyst). The pigment is also known as Olympian green. This pigment is found in the paintings of Egyptian tombs and in paintings produced throughout Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. Declined significantly during the 17th century when alternative green colors were developed.