Malachite pseudomorph after Azurite
Milpillas Mine, Milpillas,
Santa Cruz Municipality, Sonora, Mexico
15.5 cm wide x 7.5 cm tall
This specimen is a striking, sculptural cluster of malachite after azurite crystals with a rich emerald-to-deep forest green color and a velvety, silky luster. It displays Intense dark green malachite with subtle variations ranging from bluish-green to nearly black-green in shadowed areas. The specimen is composed of thick, flattened, bladed to tabular crystals that overlap in a dramatic, architectural arrangement, these crystals are bold and angular. The crystal faces display a velvety to satin sheen, with countless microscopic fibers producing a soft sparkle under the light.
The specimen has excellent visual balance: A strong doubly terminated central crystal acts as the focal point. The surrounding crystal groups spread outward like the wings of a butterfly or the petals of a flower. The saturated green color is remarkably uniform, giving the specimen a clean, high-end display appearance.
We acquired our first Milpillas examples in 2009, when several exceptional specimens were recovered. Production declined sharply soon afterward, and very few have surfaced since. It appears that most were mined during that period, as the zone that produced them was quickly worked through.
The Milpillas Mine malachite pseudomorphs are considered by many to be the finest known.