Azurite

specimen number:
2063666

location:
Chessy, Villefranche-sur-Saone, Rhone, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France

description:
A good French classic, non-lustrous blocky blue crystals of azurite measuring to 2.0 cm in size are forming a matrix less cluster. This is complete all around and in very good condition. The specimen comes with two previous collection labels, one from Ray DeMark and one from A.J. Tsush.

The Chessy copper mines, located in the Rhone department near Villefranche-sur-Saone, France, are set within a complex volcanic-sedimentary geological deposit famous for its rich secondary oxidation zones. Mined since antiquity by the Romans and famously re-exploited in the 15th century by Jacques Coeur, the locality produced significant copper ore until operations ceased in 1877. Chessy gained world renown among collectors as the type locality for fine azurite crystals (historically named chessylite after the town) along with prized specimens of cuprite, malachite, and smithsonite. Today, the site remains famous in mineral collection circles, with local geological associations managing access to the historical mine dumps for specimen searching.

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