Malachite

An excellent and highly sculptural “primary” malachite specimen from the famous Onganja mining area (possibly Emke Mine), Namibia. This miniature is richly covered on all sides by stacked clusters of lustrous, blocky malachite crystals, their deep green colour and sharp form creating a bold, upright presentation. Unlike the more common secondary malachite pseudomorphs, this is a true primary crystallized malachite, a style of growth that is much rarer from Namibia—or anywhere in the world. The Onganja locality, better known for its superb crystallized copper and outstanding cuprites, also produced these exceptional malachites over 50 years ago, and fine examples are now considered classics.

This specimen stands out for its quality, rarity, and aesthetic form, with essentially pristine crystals across the surface. A superb example of primary malachite, it comes from the well-regarded collection of Peter Tarassoff, a name well-known among Canadian collectors for his discerning eye and contributions to the hobby.