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Mike Reinke's avatar

I dont know, but I spotted a litte azurite in a shop for $20 about 8 years ago. I had a gut feeling since the blue "wasn't quite right", bought it, hoping it was linarite. Later, a geologically much sharper friend said: "Cool Linarite!" which i thought too.

I looked it up on mindat, they are both monoclinic, but linarites just seem not exactly the same shape, at least most of the time. Ive studied some xl-lography, but it gets deep fast. Too fast.

Richard I Gibson's avatar

Nice! Despite my self-desparaging comment, if someone presented me with two blue specimens, guaranteeing one to be azurite and one to be linarite, I *might* possibly be able to distinguish them - but I wouldn't bet the house on it.

Mike Reinke's avatar

Lol.

Well said.

I figure that since I "lucked out" twice in total, im an expert.

Richard I Gibson's avatar

Twice, yes, for sure!