Zuhl Geological Collection

Type of Piece: Mineral

Description: Chrysocolla

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Current Location: Visitors Center

From Where: Ray Mine, Arizona

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Notes: This is the finest and most spectacular specimen of gem Chrysocolla ever found at the Ray Mine inArizona, which was world famous for some of the finest gem chrysocolla specimens in the world. Gem Chrysocolla is in the same family as turquoise. There is a clear coating of hundreds of tiny glass clear quartz crystals covering the blue green chrysocolla which gives a luster and visual brillance to the piece. Recently there was a large avalanche that destroyed the entrance to the mine and it is not anticipated that there will be any more specimens comeing from this location. The crystal formation is considered one of the two greatest specimens of druzy (covered with tiny quartz crystals) Chrysocolla ever discovered anywhere in the world and is a major world class treasure. It was professional appraised at $155,000. The Smithsonian Institute offered to buy it in 1993 for $55,000 but then ran out of purchase funds.