Azurite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Azurite is named from the Persian word lazhward, meaning blue.

Discovered in 1824;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂ 

Copper Carbonate Hydroxide

Molecular Weight:

344.67 gm

Composition:

Copper

55.31 %

Cu

69.24 %

CuO

Hydrogen

0.58 %

H

5.23 %

H₂O

Carbon

6.97 %

C

25.54 %

CO₂

Oxygen

37.14 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Carbonates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/C.01-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

5.BA.05

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H₂O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn

Related to:

n/a

Varieties:

Kupferblau, Zincazurite

Synonyms:

Armenite (of Delamétherie), Azure Copper Ore, Azurite (of Beudant), Blue Carbonate of Copper, Blue Malachite, Chessy copper, Chessylite, Lasur, Lasurite (of Haidinger)

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Crystals are typically complex, with over 100 forms recorded, to 30 cm. Tabular on {001}, less commonly so on {102} or {102}; short to long prismatic along [001], with prominent {110} and {100}, or along [010], with wedgelike terminations. As rhomboidal, lenticular, or spherical subparallel aggregates, which may form rosettes; also as internally radial stalactitic or columnar aggregates; botryoidal, drusy, earthy, massive.

Twinning:

Rare; twin planes {101}, {102}, {001}

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Perfect (but interrupted) on {011}, Fair on {100}, Poor on {110}

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

3.5 - 4.0

Density:

3.77 - 3.89 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Soluble in dilute acids, ammonia, and hot concentrated solutions of NaHCO3. Slowly decomposed with removal of CO2 by boiling, but not by cold water.

Optical Properties

Color:

Azure-Blue, Berlin Blue, very dark to pale Blue; pale Blue in transmitted light.

Transparency:

Transparent to Subtranslucent to Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous to Subadamantine

Refractive Index:

1.730 - 1.838  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.1080

Dispersion:

Strong; r > v

Pleochroism:

Visible; pleochroic in blue, with absorption Z greater than Y greater than X.

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Found largely in the oxidized portions of copper deposits, it is a secondary mineral formed by the action of carbonated water acting on copper-containing minerals, or from Cu-containing solutions, such as CuSO^4 or CuCl^2 reacting with limestones.

Common Associations:

Malachite, Chrysocolla, Brochantite, Antlerite, Cuprite, Cerussite, Smithsonite, Calcite, Dolomite.

Common Impurities:

None

Type Locality:

Chessy-les-Mines, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France

Year Discovered:

1824

View mineral photos:

Azurite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Azurite is a secondary copper mineral that is frequently found mixed with Malachite in massive form. Azurite crystals are available for faceting but they are very small and very dark, nearly opaque. Faceted gems would be a great rarity despite being very small and dark. Azurite is more commonly available as cabochons, beads, boxes and carvings. Azurite is very popular because of its intense blue color. When Azurite is mixed with Malachite it is called Azur-malachite and when it is mixed with Cuprite it is called Burnite. These color combinations are beautiful both as mineral specimens and cabochons.

Azurite is found in many localities worldwide such as Chessy, France; Morenci and Bisbee, Arizona, USA; Kelly, New Mexico, USA; Queensland, Australia; Italy; Greece, Russia, Tsumeb, Namibia; and Zacatecas, Mexico.
 

  
Azurite gems for sale:

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