Butterfly Wing Azurite - Arizona, USA

Butterfly Wing Azurite from the historic Bagdad Mine in Arizona with exceptional patterning

The name comes from the unusual blue patterning that shows through the material, with rounded patches and branching lines that can resemble a butterfly wing

This is old Arizona lapidary material and is not something that comes around often. The Bagdad Mine is a major copper mine, so material like this was never produced in large amounts for the gem trade

It should be stabilized before cutting, as the material can be fractured and somewhat delicate. Once stabilized, the strong blue pattern makes it a very unusual material for cabochons and display pieces

This is a nice thick piece that will produce many fine cabochons 

206.77 grams  / 129 x 65 x 13.3 mm