Chrysocolla Photos        
Cochise College               
Photos of Minerals
Geology Home Page

Roger Weller, geology instructor

[email protected]    copyright 2010-R.Weller

 
banded chrysocolla
Chrysocolla is one of the strangest mineral names.  The name seems as if it should
apply to a soda drink instead of a mineral.  Technically, most chrysocolla is not a
true mineral because it lacks crystalline structure.  Most chrysocolla is just silica gel
stained blue by copper compounds.  In the specimen shown below the chrysocolla
is closer to an agate: tough and banded.  Some of the green color is due to the
presence of malachite.
 

chrysocolla                                                                                                                                banded
Photo is copyright free for non-commercial educational uses.
Just credit photo to R.Weller/Cochise College.