Reviews
AZURITE FOR SALE
What Is Azurite?
Azurite is a copper-based mineral that forms when groundwaters rich in carbon dioxide react with copper ores below the earth’s surface. Azurite is typically found in void-filling locations, the result of a precipitation-like effect that takes place as it forms. Unlike malachite, which often forms in association with azurite via a similar process, this mineral is a striking, deep blue to blue-violet in color, rather than the more traditional greens seen in other copper-based minerals. Azurite is very brittle and typically exhibits prismatic or tabular monoclinic crystals that form rosette-shaped aggregations, usually in association with malachite or chrysocolla.
Is Azurite Rare?
Azurite is not very rare, but it is fairly uncommon. This is due in part to very specific conditions required for its formation, as well as its proclivity to pseudomorph to malachite. Because azurite and malachite are very closely related copper carbonate minerals, small differences in groundwater's carbon-dioxide content that lead to azurite formation could produce malachite instead. In fact, over a significant amount of time, azurite will weather into malachite. The southwestern region of the United States has many azurite deposits, but more robust and richer deposits are found in Mexico, Siberia, Australia, France, Morocco, and Namibia.
Uses Of Azurite
Azurite is most commonly used in mineral collecting because of its vibrant and unique coloring. Jewelers do also use azurite, but the mineral is rather fragile and hard to cut and treat without discoloring the blue, thus making jewelry applications rare. In the ancient world, ground azurite was used as a pigment, though not a very good one, since azurite is unstable when oxidized. Collectors can expect best longevity in specimens if kept in a display case where heat and temperature does not fluctuate often.
At one point, azurite was used as a copper ore, though now it functions as more of an indicator species of the metal's presence. If azurite or malachite are present in significant quantities, it is a safe bet that there will be copper ore deeper within the ground.
Common Azurite Associations And Varieties
Malachite and azurite associations are quite common in nature. Both species grow in nodules near, around, and on top of one another. This association is so common that the name “azurmalachite” has become commonplace for the occurrence. Over time, azurite weathers into malachite.
Azurite and Malachite Association - Cuitaca, Mexico
Chrysocolla is another common association with azurite. Chrysocolla is another copper-based mineral that appears in colors ranging in blue to green and brown. In these azurite-chrysocolla associations, the azurite provides most of the crystalline look while chrysocolla is present as a crust or bubbly mass of blue-green.
Chrysocolla and Malachite Pseudomorph - Lupoto Mine, Katanga, Congo
Azurite suns are a unique formation of this mineral found only in the Malbunka Copper Mine in Australia. These suns form between layers of a clay mineral called kaolinite (the white matrix the suns are on). They are thought to have been formed by hydrothermal fluids carrying copper ions through the bedding planes in the rock formation. Carbonate molecules and copper ions in the groundwater nucleated around mineral grains in the kaolinite, which crystallized the azurite. Because the azurite was forced to grow in a laterally-compressed and radiating manner along preferred bedding planes, the azurite grew uniformly outward, often producing circular or sun shapes.
A brilliant, azurite sun cluster from the Malbunka Copper Mine in the Northern Territory of Australia