22.70Cts Natural Azurite Chrysocolla Fancy Shape Cabochon Loose Gemstone

Chrysocolla Azurite is a copper-bearing mineral that is often confused with Turquoise. A relatively soft stone, it has variegated colors of blue and green and is most often found wherever copper deposits occur, especially in the southwestern US, Australia, Chili, Zaire, England, and France. Azurite Chrysocolla forms as a result of the alteration and oxidation of copper ore deposits, and usually appears as a massive, soft, earthy material. Chrysocolla has a cyan (blue-green) color and is a minor ore of copper, having a hardness of 2.5 to 7.0. It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies. Associated minerals are quartz, limonite, azurite, malachite, cuprite, and other secondary copper minerals. Chrysocolla, the king of carbonate copper gemstones, is an alluring, vivid blue-green color and is often mistaken for turquoise because they share many visual similarities. Azurite has a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4. The specific gravity of azurite is 3.7 to 3.9. Characteristic of a carbonate, specimens effervesce upon treatment with hydrochloric acid. The combination of deep blue color and effervescence when moistened with hydrochloric acid are identifying characteristics of the mineral.Azurite--sometimes called a "stone of heaven"--is commonly believed to provide insight into all areas of life, promote intuition, stimulate creativity, dissolve impediments and soften cold intellectualism with love and compassion.