This is a gorgeous mineral that comes in shades of blue, deep blue, or purple. It is found primarily in copper ore deposits, and is often associated with the mineral malachite.
Azurite has been used as a pigment since ancient times, and was mentioned in Pliny the Elder’s Natural History (Pliny wrote most of his Natural History in 77 A.D. in Latin, and died in 79 A.D. watching the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in what is now central Italy). Many of the vivid blues in paintings from the Middle Ages have now been shown to be made from azurite.
Azurite as a mineral is a copper carbonate, and is relatively soft, with a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4.0. It is destroyed by high levels of heat, and the color can fade over time if it is left out in bright sunlight. When it is used in jewelry or if it is used as a specimen in a collection, it should be stored, like any blue or purple stone, in a cool dark place to prevent it from fading.
When azurite is cut as cabochons for jewelry, it is not soft, particularly if it is cut within a quartz matrix.
The mineral is found in the United States, Russia, Australia, China, Chile, and several parts of Europe.
Metaphysically, azurite is said to be good for meditation, promoting an opening of the third eye, an enhancement of psychic and intuitive abilities, and a clearing of the throat chakra. It is also said to provide insight into emotions and helps emotional growth.
We have a limited supply of azurite on our website, www.heartofstonestudio.com.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azurite, http://www.mindat.org/min-447.html, http://www.crystalvaults.com/crystal-encyclopedia/azurite, Robert Simmons, 2015, The Pocket Book of Stones.
Comments