Azurite is a soft, deep blue copper mineral produced by the weathering of copper ore deposits. When copper oxidizes, it forms the carbonate mineral Azurite. It is also known as Chessylite after the location where it was originally found at Chessy-les-Mines near Lyon, France. This beautiful crystal has more than 150 different formations. It displays color variations ranging from a striking azure blue to a very dark blue-black.
Azurite is one of the two basic copper carbonate minerals, the other being bright green malachite. Azurite slowly absorbs water and is unstable in open air and eventually pseudomorphs into malachite. Collectors often find Azurite and malachite together as a deep-blue stone with interwoven flashes of green.
The intense color of Azurite makes it a popular collector's stone. However, bright light, heat, and open air all tend to reduce the intensity of its color over time. To help preserve the deep blue color of a pristine Azurite specimen, collectors should store their specimen in a cool, dark space such as an airtight container in an environment similar to that of its original natural setting. Its fragile nature has not reduced its collectible popularity. It is so in demand because of its unparalleled color, a deep blue called "azure"…wonder how it got the name Azurite? Azure is derived from the Arabic word for blue. The color is due to the presence of copper which is a strong coloring agent. A very rare form of Azurite is called "Bluebird"; it has dark red Cuprite mixed with Azurite.
Azurite forms beautiful crystals and may be found at Cressy, France; at Cornwall, England; at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; at Mineral Point, Wisconsin; at the Copper Queen Mine, Bisbee, Arizona; at the Mammoth Mine, Tintic district, Utah and at Hughes Mine, in California, and is also found in many other copper mines in Australia, Chile, France, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, and Zaire.
Item # AZM1015AC1048
Rare Old Stock Azurite Crystals on Malachite Plate from Arizona
Rare Azurite on Malachite plate from Arizona. This specimen is from a 1950's collection of S. R. Steinhauser, geologist of the Atomic Energy Commission. It is an amazing display that was collected by Mr Steinhauser during his research and excavation trips during the 1950's when he and E. P. Beroni were researching and core drilling for raw uranium deposits.
This specimen measures 3.2 x 2.3 x 0.33" (83 x 60 x 8.4 mm) and weighs 3.1 oz or 0.19 lbs (88 grams).
This is a rare Old Stock Collector specimen with indigo blue Azurite crystals coating a botryoidal pure Malachite plate. This piece is a consignment specimen from the A. Coblentz Collection that was procured directly from S.R. Steinhauser about 20 years ago.
Item # VMAS10150001
Velvet Malachite Azurite and Silica from NM
Velvet Malachite, Azurite and Silica from New Mexico Old Stock specimen from the Wally Marks Highway 50&95 Rock Shop in Fallon, Nevada. Specimens like this are rare. This piece came from a friend of Wally's in Deming, New Mexico
This specimen weighs 15.3 oz or 0.96 lb ( 436g )
Item # 2VMA10150001
Botryoidal Velvet Malachite and Large Azurite Crystals from Sonora, Mexico
Botryoidal Velvet Malachite and Large Azurite Crystals on Matrix from Sonora, Mexico
Old Stock specimen from the Maggie McShan Rock Shop in Needles, California. Specimens like this have not been found for many years now. Chris got this piece from Maggie in 2004. The botryoidal malachite is technically velvet but it has very nice acicular needles of malachite protruding from the mound shapes. There are small bortyoidal Mimetite formations around the malachite.The large Azurite crystals are similar to the crystals now being found in the Milpillas Mine in Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. There are also small Limonite bubbles on the matrix. A very interesting specimen!
This specimen weighs 28.3 oz or 1.77 lb ( 805g ) and measures 4.3 x 3.9 x 2.5" (11 x 10 x 6.3 cm )
Item # AZUM10208943
Azurite and Fibrous Malachite Specimen from the Congo
Exceptional specimen of Azurite and Fibrous Malachite. Very nicely patterned Azurite crystal growth formations. Deep Blue Azurite pattern on one side blended to a fibrous Malachite on the other side. This specimen was procured at the 2020 Franklin NC show from a South African minerals dealer.
This specimen weighs 3.3 oz or 0.2 lbs (94g) and measures 2.9 x 1.97 x 1 inches (7.4 x 5 x 2.5 cm)