Detailed information
Species
Wulfenite, Hemimorphite, Malachite
Dimensions
91 x 114 x 53
mm
Weight
566 g
Locality
79 Mine, Chilito, Hayden, Banner District Dripping Spring Mountains Gila Co., Arizona, USA
Condition
No recorded repairs
Large and with a spectacular colour combination, we haven't seen a 79 mine Wulfenite-Hemimorphite like this for a very long time. We will state from the outset that there is damage to several of the vivid orange platy Wulfenite crystals which stand upright from their pale blue botryoidal host. However, the scale, beauty and significance of this piece outweighs such imperfections that are sadly all too common in old-time Wulfenite specimens. The richness in colour of both the Wulfenite (orange) and Hemimorphite (blue) are exceptional for 79 mine, but to see them combined is the stuff of legends. Larger cabinet in size, the rippled, undulating surface of Hemimorphite is extensive. The platy crystals of Wulfenite are incredibly thin and transparent but really beautiful. Also scattered upon the surface of the Hemimorphite are occasional small pale green-blue spherules of either Malachite, or perhaps Aurichalcite. Remarkably, this magnificent survivor comes from a small collection found in northern England and dates to the 1970s, purchased by them from [Ralph] Sutcliffe in 1977!
