Chrysocolla Photos        
Cochise College               
Photos of Minerals
Geology Home Page

Roger Weller, geology instructor

[email protected]    copyright 2010-R.Weller

 
brittle chrysocolla
Sometimes chrysocolla has been mistaken for turquoise because of its attractive
blue color.  One quick test to separate chrysocolla from turquoise is to get the
specimens slightly wet.  Chrysocolla, because it is a silica gel, absorbs water and
becomes sticky.  One of my students several years ago tried out this moisture test
with a chrysocolla specimen.  He put the piece of chrysocolla on his tongue and it
stuck.  He couldn't get the chrysocolla off of his tongue.  In a panic he pulled it off
with force, leaving small bleeding spots on his tongue. 
(Warning...do not try this experiment at home.)
 

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