Malachite? Variscite?

[BridgetownTreasures]

This piece was sitting in water in a birdbath. There was another piece that crumbled - I assume from being waterlogged - as you can see in the photo. I’m about 90% sure the origin is from here in Oregon. Any thoughts?
Thanks!

 

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[Kray Gelder]

Malachite / Azurite I'm thinking. Nice specimen!

 

[mwanyu]

This piece was sitting in water in a birdbath. There was another piece that crumbled - I assume from being waterlogged - as you can see in the photo. I’m about 90% sure the origin is from here in Oregon. Any thoughts?
Thanks!

View attachment 1799927
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View attachment 1799933

Malachite !! at its best

 

[BridgetownTreasures]

Nice! I’ve found more like this - but it’s very crumbly. Is that because it’s been submerged in water, or is that just the way malachite is?
Thank you!!

 

[trdking]

I agree with Cray And yes when it is thick it can be crumbly It is a corrosion in copper ore

 

[gunsil]

It appears to be malachite/chrysocolla with blue druzy quartz. The blue druzy is much sought after. I think maybe this is from AZ where a lot of blue druzy has been found. Blue druzy is tiny quartz crystals on chrysacolla. It looks like the malachite on this specimen will produce chatoyant malachite if it is hard enough to cut. Chatoyant malachite is much nicer than the plain cab posted above, and much rarer. If you are interested in selling it I would love to get my saw into it.

 

[ARC]

Welll I agree with 2 here...

And JFYI... Be careful of smashing / crumbling this IF in fact has Malachite in it.

Few know that Malachite is LOADED with Asbestos.

That is why they cut it underwater and mostly in third world countries.

 

[gunsil]

Malachite is listed as a highly toxic material to work, but not due to asbestos which it is not known for. Malchite's toxicity is from copper oxide which is poisonous. I have cut and polished a lot of malachite, I wear plastic gloves when I do and all my lapidary machines run in water or in the case of saws, oil.

 

[ARC]

Malachite is listed as a highly toxic material to work, but not due to asbestos which it is not known for. Malchite's toxicity is from copper oxide which is poisonous. I have cut and polished a lot of malachite, I wear plastic gloves when I do and all my lapidary machines run in water or in the case of saws, oil.

I stand corrected

I knew it had something... :P

And you all know I am not "the stones guy".

 

[ARC]

Actinolite Low Asbestos
Adamite High Arsenic, Copper; soluble in acids
Agate Low Silicosis
Albite None Known N/A
Alexandrite None Known N/A
Algodonite High Arsenic, Copper; may react with water and acids
Almandine None Known N/A
Amazonite Low Lead
Amber High Organic Material
Amblygonite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Amethyst High Silicosis
Ametrine High Silicosis
Ammolite High Organic Material
Analcime None Known N/A
Anatase None Known Soluble in acids
Andalusite None Known N/A
Andesine None Known N/A
Andradite None Known N/A
Anglesite High Lead
Anhydrite (Angelite) None Known Soluble in acids
Anorthite None Known Soluble in acids
Apatite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Apophyllite None Known Soluble in acids
Aquamarine None Known N/A
Aragonite None Known Soluble in acids
Augelite None Known Soluble in acids
Axinite None Known N/A
Azurite High Copper; Soluble in acids
Barite Low Barium
Bayldonite High Copper, Lead, Arsenic; Slightly soluble in acids
Benitoite None Known N/A
Beryl None Known N/A
Beryllonite None Known Soluble in acids
Bismutotantalite Unknown Bismuth
Black Onyx Low Silicosis
Bloodstone Low Silicosis
Boleite High Copper, Lead; Soluble in acids
Boracite Low Borate; Soluble in acids
Bornite High Copper; Soluble in acids
Brazilianite None Known N/A
Breithauptite Medium Nickel, Antimony
Brookite None Known N/A
Brucite High Asbestos; Soluble in acids
Bustamite None Known Soluble in acids
Bytownite None Known N/A
Calcareous Concretions High Organic Material
Calcite None Known Soluble in acids
Canasite None Known N/A
Cancrinite None Known Soluble in acids
Carnelian Low Silicosis
Cassiterite None Known N/A
Catapleiite None Known Soluble in acids
Celestite None Known N/A
Ceruleite High Arsenic, Copper; Soluble in acids
Cerussite High Lead; Soluble in acids
Chabazite None Known Soluble in acids
Chalcedony Low Silicosis
Chambersite Low Borate; Soluble in acids
Charoite None Known N/A
Chicken-Blood Stone High Mercury, Silicosis
Childrenite None Known Soluble in acids
Chiolite None Known N/A
Chromite High Hexavalent Chromium Traces
Chrysoberyl None Known N/A
Chrysocolla Chalcedony Low Silicosis
Chrysocolla Low Silicosis
Chrysoprase Low Silicosis
Cinnabar High Mercury; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Citrine High Silicosis
Clinochlore None Known N/A
Cobaltite High Arsenic, Cobalt; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Colemanite None Known Soluble in acids
Coral High Organic Material
Cordierite None Known Soluble in acids
Cordundum None Known N/A
Covellite High Copper; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Creedite None Known Soluble in acids
Crocoite High Hexavalent Chromium, Lead; Soluble in acids
Cryolite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Cuprite High Copper; Soluble in acids
Danburite None Known Slightly soluble in acids
Datolite Low Borate; Soluble in acids
Demantoid Garnet None Known N/A
Diamond None Known N/A
Diaspore None Known N/A
Dickinsonite None Known Soluble in acids
Diopside None Known N/A
Dioptase High Copper; Soluble in acids
Dolomite Medium May contain heavy metals; Soluble in acids
Dumortierite None Known N/A
Ekanite High Lead, Radioactivity (Uranium, Thorium)
Emerald None Known N/A
Enstatite None Known N/A
Eosphorite None Known Soluble in acids
Epidote None Known Soluble in acids; Other members of the epidote group contain lead and radioactive elements
Ettringite None Known May contain heavy metals; Soluble in water
Euclase None Known N/A
Eudialyte Medium Zircon; Slightly radioactive; Soluble in acids
Euxenite High Uranium, Thorium
Feldspar None Known N/A
Fergusonite Low Rare Earth Elements; Soluble in acids
Fluorite None Known Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Freshwater Pearls High Organic Material
Friedelite None Known Soluble in acids
Gadolinite Low Rare Earth Elements; Soluble in acids
Gahnospinel None Known N/A
Garnet None Known N/A
Gaylussite None Known Soluble in acids
Glass Low Silicosis
Grandidierite None Known N/A
Grossular Garnet None Known N/A
Gypsum None Known Soluble in acids
Hambergite Low Borate; Soluble in acids
Haüyne None Known Soluble in acids
Heliodor None Known N/A
Hematite Low Iron; Soluble in acids
Hemimorphite None Known Soluble in acids
Herderite None Known Soluble in acids
Hessonite None Known N/A
Hodgkinsonite None Known Soluble in acids
Holtite Medium Arsenic, Rare Earth Elements
Howlite None Known Soluble in acids
Huebnerite Low Tungsten; Soluble in acids
Humite None Known Soluble in acids
Hureaulite None Known Soluble in acids
Hurlbutite None Known Soluble in acids
Hydrogrossular None Known Soluble in acids
Idocrase Low May contain beryllium, copper, and rare earths; Soluble in acids
Inderite Low Borate; Soluble in acids
Iolite None Known Soluble in acids
Jadeite None Known N/A
Jasper Low Silicosis
Jeremejevite None Known N/A
Jet High Organic Material
Kämmererite None Known N/A
Kornerupine None Known N/A
Kurnakovite Low Borate; Soluble in acids
Kyanite None Known N/A
Labradorite None Known N/A
Langbeinite None Known Water soluble
Lapis Lazuli Medium Often included with pyrite
Lawsonite None Known N/A
Lazulite None Known N/A
Legrandite High Arsenic
Lepidolite None Known Soluble in acids
Leucite None Known Soluble in acids
Linarite High Copper, Lead; Soluble in acids
Ludlamite None Known Soluble in acids
Magnesite None Known Soluble in acids
Malachite High Copper; Soluble in acids
Malaya Garnet None Known N/A
Mali Garnet None Known N/A
Mandarin Garnet None Known N/A
Manganotantalite None Known N/A
Marcasite Medium Reacts with water
Meliphanite None Known N/A
Mellite High Organic Material
Microcline None Known N/A
Microlite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Milarite None Known N/A
Millerite High Nickel; can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Mimetite High Arsenic, Lead; Soluble in acids
Moldavite None Known N/A
Monazite Low Rare Earth Elements; Soluble in acids
Moonstone None Known N/A
Mordenite High Fibrosis
Morganite None Known N/A
Nambulite None Known N/A
Natrolite High Asbestos
Mesolite High Asbestos
Scolecite High Asbestos
Nepheline None Known Soluble in acids
Nephrite None Known N/A
Neptunite None Known N/A
Niccolite (Nickeline) High Arsenic, Nickel
Obsidian Low Silicosis
Oligoclase None Known N/A
Opal Low Silicosis
Oregon Sunstone Medium Copper
Orthoclase None Known N/A
Padparadscha Sapphire None Known N/A
Painite None Known N/A
Palygorskite None Known N/A
Papagoite Low Copper
Paraiba Tourmaline None Known N/A
Pargasite None Known N/A
Parisite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Pearl High Organic Material
Pectolite (Larimar) None Known N/A
Pentlandite High Nickel
Periclase High Laxative; reacts with water
Peridot None Known N/A
Peristerite None Known N/A
Perthite None Known N/A
Petalite None Known N/A
Phenakite None Known N/A
Phosgenite Medium Lead; Soluble in acids
Phosphophyllite None Known Soluble in acids
Pollucite Low Cesium; Soluble in acids
Powellite Medium Molybdenum; Soluble in acids
Prehnite None Known Soluble in acids
Prosopite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Proustite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Pumpellyite None Known N/A
Purpurite Low Soluble in acids
Pyrargyrite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Pyrite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Pyrope None Known N/A
Pyrophyllite Low Soluble in acids
Pyroxmangite None Known N/A
Pyrrohotite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Quartz High Silicosis
Quartzite High Silicosis
Realgar High Arsenic; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Red Beryl None Known N/A
Rhodizite None Known N/A
Rhodochrosite Low Manganese; Soluble in acids
Rhodolite None Known N/A
Rhodonite Low Manganese; Soluble in acids
Rose Quartz High Silicosis
Rubellite Tourmaline None Known N/A
Ruby None Known N/A
Rutile None Known N/A
Saltwater Pearls High Organic Material
Samarskite High Lead, Uranium, Rare earth elements; Soluble
Sanidine None Known N/A
Sapphire None Known N/A
Sapphirine None Known N/A
Scapolite None Known N/A
Scorodite High Arsenic; Soluble in acids
Sellaite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Senarmontite Low Antimony; soluble in water
Serandite None Known N/A
Serpentine None Known N/A
Shattuckite Medium Copper; soluble in acids
Shell High Organic Material
Shortite None Known Water soluble
Siderite None Known Soluble in acids
Sillimanite None Known N/A
Simpsonite Medium Tantalum; soluble in acids
Sinhalite None Known N/A
Smaltite High Arsenic, Cobalt, Nickel; soluble in acids
Smithsonite Medium Zinc; soluble in acids
Smoky Quartz High Silicosis
Sodalite None Known Soluble in acids
Sogdianite None Known N/A
Spessartite Garnet None Known N/A
Sphalerite None Known N/A
Sphene (Titanite) None Known N/A
Spinel None Known N/A
Spodumene Low Lithium
Spurrite None Known N/A
Staurolite None Known N/A
Stibiotantalite Low Antimony, Niobium, Tantalum
Stichtite None Known Soluble in acids
Stolzite High Lead, Tungsten
Strontianite Low Strontium
Sugilite None Known N/A
Sulfur High Sulfur
Sunstone None Known N/A
Taafeite None Known N/A
Talc None Known N/A
Tantalite Medium Niobium, Tantalum; soluble in acids
Tanzanite None Known N/A
Tektite Low Silicosis
Tephroite None Known N/A
Thomsonite None Known N/A
Tiger’s Eye High Asbestos; Silicosis
Topaz None Known N/A
Tourmaline None Known N/A
Tremolite None Known N/A
Triphylite (Tryphylite) Medium Lithium; soluble in acids
Tsavorite None Known N/A
Tugtupite None Known N/A
Turquoise Low Copper
Ulexite Low Borate
Uvarovite None Known N/A
Vanadinite High Lead, Vanadium
Variscite None Known N/A
Väyrynenite None Known N/A
Villiaumite High Water soluble; Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Vivianite None Known N/A
Wardite None Known Soluble in acids
Wavellite None Known N/A
Weloganite Low Zirconium
Whewellite High Oxalate
Wilkeite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed
Willemite None Known N/A
Witherite High Barium
Wollastonite None Known N/A
Wulfenite High Lead
Xonotlite None Known N/A
Yugawaralite None Known N/A
Zektzerite Low Lithium, Zirconium
Zincite None Known Soluble in acids
Zircon Low Zirconium; soluble in acids
Zunyite High Can react dangerously if accidentally swallowed

 

[BridgetownTreasures]

I have a few sentimental pieces but I am happy to hear offers on most of these pieces. I have found other beautiful chrysocolla slab pieces that went to a great home here locally and turned into some stunning polished cabs. Grandpa had a LOT of agate/jasper/chalcedony pieces, rough Oregon opal, thundereggs, as well as some raw metals, shells/coral, many many garnets, vesuvianite, tons of petrified wood...

Long story short - I am interested in selling items. I have lots more to post in this forum (you guys are by far the best, kindest and most knowledgable and I am VERY grateful!!), and I would love to make some connections offline to run specimens by if that's an acceptable thing.

 

[BridgetownTreasures]

Would this be considered “druzy”?

 

[hvacker]

Malachite is listed as a highly toxic material to work, but not due to asbestos which it is not known for. Malchite's toxicity is from copper oxide which is poisonous. I have cut and polished a lot of malachite, I wear plastic gloves when I do and all my lapidary machines run in water or in the case of saws, oil.

Gotta ask, I've been exposed heavily to copper oxide in brazing copper pipe for years. The oxides form if a cover gas such as nitrogen isn't used. I have no knowledge of this being a problem. In fact copper oxide is used as a vitamin supplement.
If you have knowledge of this problem I would like to know your sources as I know other people that work copper in this way.

 

[Steve1236]

I don't know what kind of exposure you are getting from your job but I was about to practice cutting on some malachite chrysocolla I found but I decided to Google it first and the first thing I saw was that it's very toxic and always take precautions, mask/ventilator, eye protection, gloves, never lick or taste, I don't know who'd do that but it said it lol, I'd just be very careful, atleast where a ventilator.

 

[gunsil]

Would this be considered “druzy”? View attachment 1805510

It looks like a druzy also, but the crystals are on the large size to be called druzy. Druzy is available in other colors and shades than blue since the color comes from the rock it has grown on. Blue is the most sought after color. Generally with druzy the smallest sparkly crystals are the best. As the crystals increase in size the desirability of the specimen goes down.

 

[gunsil]

I have a few sentimental pieces but I am happy to hear offers on most of these pieces. I have found other beautiful chrysocolla slab pieces that went to a great home here locally and turned into some stunning polished cabs. Grandpa had a LOT of agate/jasper/chalcedony pieces, rough Oregon opal, thundereggs, as well as some raw metals, shells/coral, many many garnets, vesuvianite, tons of petrified wood...

Long story short - I am interested in selling items. I have lots more to post in this forum (you guys are by far the best, kindest and most knowledgable and I am VERY grateful!!), and I would love to make some connections offline to run specimens by if that's an acceptable thing.

Hello, I sent you a PM with my contact info and I may be able to help with some IDs, maybe not all, it can be hard sometimes to ID a rock from just a photo.

 

[hvacker]

some malachite chrysocolla I found but I decided to Google it first and the first thing I saw was that it's very toxic and always take precautions, mask/ventilator, eye protection, gloves, never lick or taste, I don't know who'd do that but it said it lol, I'd just be very careful, atleast where a ventilator.[/QUOTE]

I don't want to spread misinformation or have anyone not take precautions. I haven't seen scientific info regarding problems with chrysocolla or related rocks. There could be trace elements/minerals that might be problematic in some samples. Arsenic rocks I do use caution.

My exposure to copper oxide was when I was a mechanical contractor and piping was a major part of the work. I had other worries like the cadmium in brazing rods. Even though the piping was purged with nitrogen, oxides would form on the outside of the pipes. It never was a concern. Not that some study in the future might change minds. I've still have my silver fillings in my mouth.

 

[IAMZIM]

some malachite chrysocolla I found but I decided to Google it first and the first thing I saw was that it's very toxic and always take precautions, mask/ventilator, eye protection, gloves, never lick or taste, I don't know who'd do that but it said it lol, I'd just be very careful, atleast where a ventilator.

I don't want to spread misinformation or have anyone not take precautions. I haven't seen scientific info regarding problems with chrysocolla or related rocks. There could be trace elements/minerals that might be problematic in some samples. Arsenic rocks I do use caution.

My exposure to copper oxide was when I was a mechanical contractor and piping was a major part of the work. I had other worries like the cadmium in brazing rods. Even though the piping was purged with nitrogen, oxides would form on the outside of the pipes. It never was a concern. Not that some study in the future might change minds. I've still have my silver fillings in my mouth.[/QUOTE]

Just a comment on your silver fillings....silver is actually a topical antiseptic, one reason they are safe for fillings!