Bisbee Malachite Azurite

I got this in trade for some work I did helping out with a mineral database program I wrote. I told the guy I just wanted a nice rock and this is what I got-which I think is a very nice rock. No complaints at all. It is from Bisbee and came out of an old northern University collection --probably from the turn of the century. It is about 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" and displays well from both sides. So have included pics of front, back and edge. I cannot really make up my mind which is front and which is back-both look very nice and completely different. The malachite xls are very gemmy and sparkly--the azurite in normal light probably not quite as intense as in picture, although I did lower the contrast to make it closer to what I see. Old Bisbees are an American classic, and just wonder how this one stacks up and what it might be worth.

For me an "ok" or mediocre specimen from this location. While it may be "old", it has no label to confirm this and the lack of any provenance label may limit any historic value. As to the pix, the malachite is ok but the azurite is non crystalline and just "blue rock". Picture 2 shows what appears to be a major crack thru about the center of the specimen. If it is not a repair crack, it may be a complete specimen split waiting to happen. Value is only what someone will pay you for it. I would buy it for no more than $35 - $40. Perhaps, even without a location/date label someone wanting anything and everything from this presumed locality might pay much more???? This brings up an ethics question: is a fabricated label better than no label at all???



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2012 01:46PM by BOB HARMAN.

Less than $50.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.