Chrysocolla with Azurite | #169

The Stone: Chrysocolla with Azurite

• natural
• unstabilized

The Weight: 64.88 carats

The Origin: Arizona

The Cut: Barrel Cabochon Cut

• stone measurements: 15.08mm x 27.23mm x 6.10mm

About Chrysocolla:

Chrysocolla, high grade material referred to as "gem silica," is a blue to green mineral colored by a high copper content.  The mineral is often found in copper mines alongside turquoise, malachite, and azurite.  Crystalized chrysocolla is rare but available on the market; material typically forms en masse.  Chrysocolla's translucency helps differentiate it from opaque turquoise.

  Chrysocolla is known to vary in durability.  While pendants and earrings are always safe, only some pieces can be worn in rings every day.  Material ranges from 2 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale depending entirely on the amount of silica (or quartz) in the stone's makeup.  Generally, dark navy blue pieces are softer, while cyan, green, and blue-green pieces are harder.  It is not recommended to put chrysocolla in chemical silver cleaner unless you know for certain it is agatized (the result of having a high silica content).