We have recently received some fantastic Azurite Suns. They are unique forms of azurite that have been found in only one place in the world: the Malbunka Copper Mine (formerly the Namatjira prospect) near Areyonga, beneath a hill in the desert in Northern Territory, Australia, (West of Alice Springs). Malbunka is the name of the Aboriginal clan that owns the land. Azurite Suns form between layers of a clay mineral called kaolinite, with some sandstone rich lenses. The kaolinite is the matrix for the suns. The kaolinite is thought to be the result of the weathering of a tuffaceous volcanic rock. The azurite was formed by hydrothermal fluids carrying copper ions, which moved through bedding planes/slip planes in the kaolinite rock formation. Carbonate molecules and copper ions in the groundwater nucleated around mineral grains in the kaolinite, which resulted in crystallization of the azurite. Because the azurite was forced to grow in a laterally compressed, radiating manner along preferred bedding planes, the azurite grew uniformly outward, frequently producing near perfect circles. We have the following available:- * Single Azurite Sun Cabochons from 10mm to over 50mm * Azurite Suns on Matrix from about 10mm up to 50 to 60mm and Museum Specimens.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 06:02:48 +0000
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