Fiftieth Rochester Mineralogical Symposium: Contributed Papers in Specimen Mineralogy—Part 1.

Many more pseudomorphs are nucleated from the azurite matrix interface than nucleated from the azurite crystal surface. In conclusion, the analysis of these pseudomorph illustrations suggests the following: Azurite can continue to grow on azurite while malachite pseudomorphs are growing within. The four azurite crack surfaces have conchoidal fractures on one surface, complete coverage of new secondary azurite on a second surface, and two vertical surfaces with mixed conchoidal areas and new azurite. The governing reaction for malachite growth is: Two azurites plus one water yields three malachites plus carbon dioxide. [Extracted from the article]