Cuprite on Chrysocolla
Mashamba West Mine
Mutshatsha, Lualaba, DR Congo (formerly Zaire)
2.9 cm x 2.4 cm x 2.0 cm
Out of an old collection, comes the beautiful specimen of Cuprite from this well known mine.
The old collection tag state Zaire, from when it was purchased.
It has nicely formed, deep red octahedral Cuprite crystals on an amorphous pale green Chrysocolla matrix.
The light blue chrysocolla of this specimen provides an excellent contrast to the red cuprite crystals.
What is really interesting about the main large crystal, is that as it formed,
each time it came into contact with the chrysocolla, it terminated then the growth changed directions.
So everywhere you see contact with the chrysocolla, the main cuprite crystal is terminated.
The large crystal is also partially hollow from forming around the Chrysocolla, which can be seen from the hole in the top of the crystal.
The hole in the top of the crystal was present during it forming,
as evident by some terminated edges around the rim.
There is some slight chipping around the hole, but so this might be considered damage,
but it looks like it is from very long ago.
There are a few smaller crystals on the specimen along with some minor malachite.
