Azurite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Azurite

Azurite

Name/Title

Azurite

Entry/Object ID

2009.62.79

Description

Chemical Composition: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 Crystal System: Monoclinic System Description: Common Name: Azurite Chemistry: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2, Copper Carbonate Hydroxide Group: Carbonates Location: Guangdong Province, China Description: Small grained crystals, deep blue in color. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Color is azure, deep blue or pale blue if found in small crystals or crusts. Luster is vitreous to dull depending on habit. Transparency: Transparent if in thin crystals, otherwise translucent to opaque. Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m. Crystal Habits crystals are irregular blades with wedge shaped terminations. Also, aggregate crusts and radiating, botryoidal, nodular and earthy masses. Cleavage is good in one direction and fair in another. Fracture is conchoidal and brittle. Hardness is 3.5-4. Specific Gravity is 3.7+ (heavier than average). Streak is blue. Associated Minerals are numerous and include malachite limonite, calcite, cerussite, quartz, chalcopyrite, native copper, cuprite, chrysocolla, aurichalcite, shattuckite, liroconite, connellite and other oxidized copper minerals. Best Field Indicators are color, softness, crystal habits and associations. Amethyst Galleries sells natural mineral specimens, including precious metals and gemstones. Fracture: conchoidal Hardness: 4 Flourite Luster: Vitreous Occurrence: It is still considered a minor ore of copper; mostly because it is found associated with other more valuable copper ores. Azurite produced by weathering of copper ore deposits. Specific Gravity: 3.7 Streak: blue Variety: Azure is derived from the arabic word for blue. The color is due to the presence of copper (a strong coloring agent), and the way the copper chemically combines with the carbonate groups (CO3) and hydroxyls (OH). Azurite has been used as a dye for paints and fabrics for eons. Azurite is often associated with its colorful close cousin, malachite

Collection

RAGM Mineral Collection

Acquisition

Accession

2009.62

Source or Donor

Museum Collection of Minerals

Acquisition Method

Donation

Dimensions

Width

2-3/4 in

Length

3-1/4 in

Weight

0.44 oz

Dimension Notes

Dimension taken at widest points

Location

Location

Display Case

FS-16

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Category

Exhibit

Moved By

Ian C.

Date

January 22, 2025

Notes

Inventory/location

Location

Display Case

FS-4-A

Room

Frieda Smith Hall

Building

Crater Rock Museum

Date

January 4, 2024