Description/Interesting Notes:
An absolutely remarkable old time example of malachite and azurite from Utah!!! I must start off by saying that this specimen is so much more incredible than the
pictures show - this is an incredibly unique example of malachite indeed!!! This specimen consists of striking pairing of rich green malachite and
lively blue azurite - however what makes it so incredible is that
the botryoidal malachite is actually LUSTROUS and incredibly smooth!!! It actually resembles the classic
pseudomalachite seen Slovakia (however, it is undoubtedly malachite of course)!!! The pictures don't convey just how
remarkable it is, however upon first seeing it I thought that it MUST be treated in some way!!! However, after numerous physical and chemical tests it has
been determined to be completely natural!!! However - what is more telling than any testing, is the fact
that ONLY the surface of the malachite (and not all of it even) has this
incredible luster - there are areas of azurite grown up through it that are completely fuzzy, flat & opaque but surrounded by lustrous malachite!!! Even more, there is a mound of
primary malachite crystals grown on this layer of lustrous malachite as well!!! There is also some powdery matrix still associated on the reverse!!!
This specimen is nothing short of incredible - I have never seen anything like it - in person it is a killer and VERY aesthetic!!! The pictures simply don't even
come close to doing this amazing old timer justice!!! This specimen is from the Albert Peppis collection!!!
Albert Peppis was born July 5th, 1899 and died July 12th, 1989 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where his collection
had layed dormant for nearly 20 years until our acquisition of the collection!!! Albert was an avid mineral
collector and prolific field collector throughout the northeastern United States!!! Peppis collected most
prolifically between the late 1920's throughout the 1960's although he coninued to acquire specimens in his
later years as well!!! Albert was both a member of the Franklin Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society and the
New York City Mineralogical Society!!! Peppis was a close friend of Alvin and Raymond Schortmann and
collected extensively with them at the Ruggles Mine in New Hampshire during the trips that began their
mineral dealing careers!!!
Good luck and be sure to check out my other exciting mineral auctions on ebay!!!
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