Chrysocolla

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Chrysocolla
Specific gravity
1.9–2.4
Optical propertiesBiaxial (−)
Refractive indexnα = 1.575–1.585 nβ = 1.597 nγ = 1.598–1.635
Birefringenceδ = 0.023–0.050
References[3][4][1][5]

Chrysocolla (

phyllosilicate mineral and mineraloid with the formula Cu
2 – xAl
x(H
2Si
2O
5)(OH)
4⋅nH
2O (x < 1)[1] or (Cu, Al)
2H
2Si
2O
5(OH)
4⋅nH
2O).[4]

The structure of the mineral has been questioned, as a 2006 spectrographic study suggest material identified as chrysocolla may be a mixture of the copper hydroxide spertiniite and chalcedony.[6]

History

The name chrysocolla comes from the Ancient Greek χρυσός (khrusós) and κολλα (kolla), meaning "gold" and "glue" respectively,[7] in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold. The word was first used by Theophrastus in 315 BC.

Geology

Chrysocolla has a

oxidation zones of copper ore bodies. Associated minerals are quartz, limonite, azurite, malachite, cuprite, and other secondary copper minerals. It is typically found as botryoidal
or rounded masses and crusts, or vein fillings.

A 2006 study has produced evidence that chrysocolla may be a microscopic mixture of the copper hydroxide mineral spertiniite, amorphous silica and water.[6][1]

Jewelry

Due to being somewhat more common than

Mohs hardness ranging from 2 through 7, which is dependent on the amount of silica incorporated into the stone when it is forming. Generally, dark navy blue chrysocolla is too soft to be used in jewelry, while cyan, green, and blue-green chrysocolla can have a hardness approaching 6, similar to turquoise. Chrysocolla chalcedony is a heavily silicified form of chrysocolla that forms in quartz deposits and can be very hard and approach a hardness of 7.[8][9][10]

Gallery

  • Powder-blue chrysocolla as stalactitic growths and as a thin carpet in vugs inside a boulder of nearly solid tyrolite, from the San Simon Mine, Iquique Province, Chile (size: 14.1 cm × 8.0 cm × 7.8 cm (5.6 in × 3.1 in × 3.1 in))
    Powder-blue chrysocolla as stalactitic growths and as a thin carpet in vugs inside a boulder of nearly solid tyrolite, from the San Simon Mine, Iquique Province, Chile (size: 14.1 cm × 8.0 cm × 7.8 cm (5.6 in × 3.1 in × 3.1 in))
  • Banded white to blue green chrysocolla, from Bisbee, Arizona (size: 12.2 cm × 5.5 cm × 5.2 cm (4.8 in × 2.2 in × 2.0 in))
    Banded white to blue green chrysocolla, from Bisbee, Arizona (size: 12.2 cm × 5.5 cm × 5.2 cm (4.8 in × 2.2 in × 2.0 in))
  • Chrysocolla and silver bolo tie. This chrysocolla specimen is from the Kennecot Copper Mine in Bingham Canyon, West Valley City, Utah.
    Chrysocolla and silver
    Bingham Canyon, West Valley City, Utah
    .
  • Brochantite (emerald green) and chrysocolla, from the Rokana Mine, Zambian Copperbelt
    Brochantite (emerald green) and chrysocolla, from the Rokana Mine, Zambian Copperbelt

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chrysocolla.
  1. ^ a b c d Chrysocolla, Mindat.org
  2. S2CID 235729616
    .
  3. ^ "Chrysocolla". Mineralienatlas – Fossilienatlas.
  4. ^ a b "Chrysocolla" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy.
  5. ^ Chrysocolla Mineral Data, WebMineral.com
  6. ^ a b François Farges, Karim Benzerara, Gordon E. Brown, Jr.; Chrysocolla Redefined as Spertiniite; SLAC-PUB-12232; 13th International Conference On X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS13); July 9-14, 2006; Stanford, California
  7. ^ Spencer, Leonard James (1911). "Chrysocolla" . In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 320.
  8. ^ "Gem Silica: The blue, most valuable variety of chalcedony". geology.com.
  9. ^ "Chrysocolla: The gemstone chrysocolla information and pictures". www.minerals.net.
  10. ^ "Chrysocolla Value, Price, and Jewelry Information - IGS".


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