Detailed sheet

azurite

Discovered in 1824 by Beudant Chessy-les-Mines in France, azurite takes its name from its azure blue.
It has been known since antiquity, it is a copper carbonate, which effervesces with acids. It is often associated with malachite, green, in copper deposits, as azurite turns into malachite: some crystals half-azurite, half malachite are observed.
It has been used as a pigment in paint until the nineteenth century, the blue paint was made of azurite and not from lapis lazuli hard to find and very expensive.
The Eilat stone is a mixture of malachite, chrysocolla, azurite and turquoise.



CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Cu3[CO3]2(OH)2

basic copper carbonate



PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Main color

blue

deep blue used for pigments

Color of streak

blue

Luster

adamantine, vitreous

Hardness

3.5 to 4.0

Density

3.70 to 3.90

Cleavage

indistinct

Fracture

conchoidal



OPTICAL PROPERTIES

Transparency

translucent, transparent

only some small crystals are transparent

Refractive index

1.720 - 1.850

Double refraction

0.108

strong biaxial (+)

visible double refraction

No

Dispersion

-

Pleochroism

definite

Number of colors

2

light blue, dark blue

Absorption spectrum

500

azurite spectrum system

Fluorescence

none



CRYSTALS PROPERTIES

prismatic, tabular or in crystal aggregates in balls shape

crystals system

monoclinic



OTHER INFORMATIONS

Astrological sign

Aries, Pisces

Exploited
sites

We recall the well-known deposit of Chessy, near Lyon, now exhausted, it delivered magnificent specimens and gave a derived name : the “chessylite”.
It is found mainly in Australia (Queesland), Chile, United States States (Arizona, New Mexico), Romania, Peru, Canada, Morocco, Mexico, Namibia, Russia (Siberia, Urals) … and since shortly China provides fine specimens similar to “chessylite balls”.

use in jewelry

It was not only used in jewelry, but as dye-based paints in blue. Being fragile, it is barely used other than to shape objects of art, although we find some cabochons or faceted stones of a very nice shine. The azurite is sensitive to heat, which reduces its use.

Daily care
and precautions

avoid all contacts with acids, lemon, fruits, vinegar

imitations and
treatments

As it is fragile, it can be “consolidated” with resins to prevent it from breaking. These treatments must always be reported because they are not natural, nor reversible.

Historical
healing properties

The use of large single crystals would be preferable to aggregates of microcrystals as more powerful, to open the door of the Divine Spirit. With the third eye, it would increase the sense faculties, and activate the mind, and on the top chakra, it would lead the great astral travel.
Its crystals, considered very powerful, would be used with caution, and together with the obsidian and schorl at the feet arches and the base chakra.

Other
Gems

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