FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[lluis]

Jordi, believe me, in question of opinions, I never take nothing bad.
Opinions are opinions.

I know that Jean is very well regarded (I trust in him, if that serves for anything).

But even thinking that the Nurbo stalactite is probably legit, it could be for what I know, fabricated.

Way to know by sure?
Break it.

And I would not do..

That said, I only placed what I think.
And as I said Jean could be very well the best. But Ottens was caught. And I think that no one questions Ottens...

With best wishes

Lluís

[nurbo]

These are the Quartz crystals I mentioned, they are to about 4 or 5 mm, well, I assume they are Quartz, maybe they are something else, the point being they wouldnt be there if it was a fake.or so I'm told.

[lluis]

Hi, Nurbo

With this photos, I think also it is a legit one.

By the way, in a fake matrix, all could be placed, depending of hability of "artist".

With best wishes

Lluís

[Roger Warin]

Hello,
I return to the subject of false malachite stalactites.
A first remark, the real are soft to the touch. There are no rough edges.
A careful examination shows an ordered structure. There is a repetition of small nipples of crystals resembling flower petals.
The section of the stalactite obviously has the hole in the supply channel. This radial feeding results from an accumulation of areas with oscillating colors, very dark green to light green.
False malachite stalactite is rough to the touch, as is made by projecting a jet of crushed crystals on a support. There is obviously then no organization of these broken crystals.
Roger.

[lluis]

Dear Mark

If Jordi gets the permission from Lapis, I think I could find the article on the fake malachites that Ottens published.

I fear that are not done with crushed crystals, as many fake geodes are done in Morocco.

They are crystals, and they look like natural ones.
Ottens was only aware of it when one crushed and show the "guts", showing it was no natural.

Are done precipitating malachite over the support, similar to making the fakes Italian sulphurs (other solvent, of course....)

Here is a link about one we talked in spanish forum:
https://www.foro-minerales.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=28292#28292

With best wishes

Lluís

[Jordi Fabre]

[lluis]

Thanks, Jordi

I will delay a little time, because I have Lapis and MR in other house... (just too volume... :-) )

With best wishes

Lluís

[Roger Warin]

Hi Lluis, Jordi, and all
Here is the base of the stalactite. It was broken by the underground worker and not cut. Its surface is "conchoidal" or curve.
We can see that inside the canal is covered with minute crystals of malachite. Concentric zones are well correlated to the type of natural growth.
Roger.