Chrysocolla & Quartz

The Julcani Mining District of Peru sits atop a mineralogically rich volcanic complex that has yielded silver, copper, gold, and other materials since the 1940s. While silver is the primary export from this region, collectors prize it equally for striking mineral specimens like this vibrant chrysocolla and quartz combination. Chrysocolla forms as a weathering product of copper-bearing minerals and can occur alongside quartz and other copper oxides in these oxidized zones. This specimen from the Tentadora Mine showcases the remarkable color palette characteristic of Julcani material, displaying a gradient from pale apple green through seafoam teal to intense turquoise-blue. The botryoidal chrysocolla masses coat and interweave with quartz crystals, creating dramatic textural contrast throughout the specimen. An incredible Peruvian mineral specimen that displays well from many angles.