Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
 azurite

Chemical Group:    carbonate

Chemical Formula:    2CuCO3.Cu(OH)2

Color:  azure-blue to Berlin-blue                 Streak:  light blue

 

Hardness:  3.5 to 4            Specific Gravity:  3.77 to 3.89

Luster:  vitreous to adamantine        Fracture:  conchoidal

Cleavage:  one direction

 

Crystal Forms:  Monoclinic system
          Crystals are highly varied in shape and habit
          Some azurite crystals alter to malachite (pseudomorphs)

Mineral Associations:  Oxide zone of copper ores

Identifying Characteristics:

Uses:  jewelry, copper ore

Occurrences:  Bisbee, Arizona; Morenci, Arizona; Zacatecas, Mexico  

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- high          when inhaled- moderate

Additional Information: