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Scott LaBorde
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Azurite location?
Sep 7th, 2022 at 9:01pm
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So I've got this nice azurite specimen (minor malachite) without a label thus no location data. So, I just wanted to see if there was anyone that knows more about azurite than I do. I have an idea of where it came from by doing mindat research, however, I don't want to adulterate the waters with my idea until I've given all of you a fair chance to come up with an answer.   Wink. Any help is much appreciated!  Smiley
  

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azurite4.jpg ( 258 KB | 11 Downloads )
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Scott LaBorde
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daves64
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Re: Azurite location?
Reply #1 - Sep 8th, 2022 at 11:05am
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So THAT'S where it wandered off to. Thought I just misplaced it.  Grin
Very nice looking chunk 'o rock there Scott!
  
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JoeM
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Re: Azurite location?
Reply #2 - Sep 8th, 2022 at 8:00pm
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Well, Indeed! I thought Azurite crystals like these were a little more rare than they apparently are.  I'm surprised to see so many different possible source localities around the world. These are good size for the type. The formation reminds me of some Siderites.
That being said, the habit of crystal growth does seem to be unique enough from site to site that a positive identification should be possible with close examination of similar specimens.
How many guesses do we get? Go Fish?
I'll take three. Got any 'M's'?

Guess #3.  Morenci Mine, Greenlee Co., AZ
                  I didn't think this would be a candidate at first, but after checking specimen pictures, it looks like similar crystals have been found there.
Guess #2,  Milpillas Mine,  Sonora, Mexico
                  Good possibility.
Guess #1,  Morocco
                  Best possibility as a lot of this material has been appearing on the market the last few years.

Just guesses. But, yes, between the host rock and the crystal habit a positive source ID should be possible. Azurite is a cool, beautiful mineral, with tons of different forms!  Wink
  
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Scott LaBorde
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Re: Azurite location?
Reply #3 - Sep 10th, 2022 at 10:32pm
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Well my #1 guess was Morenci Mine, AZ, although I did vacillated between AZ and Morocco.

The reason is because it seems most of the Moroccan specimens had very high luster, whereas my specimen has a slight etched luster. I found more examples of similar luster in the Morenci Mine azurites. Don't get me wrong, as I do understand that trying to classify it with a characteristic as tenuous as luster alone probably isn't too reliable. Basically what I'm saying is that I could be easily convinced to change my mind to Moroccan.  Tongue

France was also something I was looking at.

Taking solely into account the sheer number of morrocan azurites that were uploaded to mindat, my specimen might be moroccan if going by probability alone.  Shocked
  

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Re: Azurite location?
Reply #4 - Sep 12th, 2022 at 6:08pm
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Yes, I was surprised by how many different locations have produced crystals like these.  I thought they were a little more rare and site specific, but it makes sense that pockets where crystals like these have room to grow could happen at any location.
It does look like there are subtle differences in the crystals from one site to another, so if you were able to have the specimens infront of you to study you could probably identify the source from the crystal habit and the host rock.
They are beautiful crystals.
Morocco sounds good to me, Rocco! Smiley
  
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