Altyn-Tyube indentification

Currently the Altyn-Tyube page list Calcite, Dioptase, and Quartz.

One of the Dioptase specimens in my collection is a group of mediocre dioptase crystals on calcite and two patches of an unidentified green needle shaped mineral. Th needles are a transparent, glassy emerald green and range up to about 1.5mm long Does anyone know enough about the area to suggest what this mineral may be?

Hi Karl,

I suspect that it's acicular Malachite. In the past I have identified both Malachite and Azurite on some of my Altyn-Tyube Dioptase specimens. Malachite on these specimens were found both as acicular needles on some specimens and pseudos after Azurite on one specimen, shown here: [www.mindat.org] . I don't know if you have enough material to test a bit of it with dilute HCl to see if it fizzes but that may help if possible to do. Good luck with it Karl.

Ron