Azurite
This page kindly sponsored by Mariusz Oleszczuk
Formula:
Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
System:
Monoclinic
Colour:
Azure blue, blue, light ...
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Name:
From the ancient Persian lazhward, meaning "blue", in allusion to the color. Name changed to azurite in 1824 by Francois Sulpice Beudant.
A secondary copper mineral frequently found in the oxidized zones of Cu-bearing ore deposits.
Azurite is typically found as tabular to prismatic crystals of a deep "azure blue" color with splendent vitreous faces. There are over 45 well-known forms, and over 100 forms have been described. Azurite is often pseudomorphed to Malachite, and the two are very frequently found together.
Azurite may be confused with (the very rare) Mrázekite.
For discussion on type locality, see http://www.mindat.org/mesg-7-379912.html
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Azurite.
Azurite is typically found as tabular to prismatic crystals of a deep "azure blue" color with splendent vitreous faces. There are over 45 well-known forms, and over 100 forms have been described. Azurite is often pseudomorphed to Malachite, and the two are very frequently found together.
Azurite may be confused with (the very rare) Mrázekite.
For discussion on type locality, see http://www.mindat.org/mesg-7-379912.html
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Azurite.
Classification of Azurite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
5/C.01-10
5.BA.05
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
A : With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn
Dana 7th ed.:
16.2.1.1
16a.2.1.1
16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)3(XO3)2Zq
16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)3(XO3)2Zq
11.2.2
11 : Carbonates
2 : Carbonates of Cu
11 : Carbonates
2 : Carbonates of Cu
Physical Properties of Azurite
Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Azure blue, blue, light blue, or dark blue; light blue in transmitted light
Streak:
Light blue
Hardness (Mohs):
3½ - 4
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {011}; on {100} fair; on {110} in traces.
Perfect on {011}; on {100} fair; on {110} in traces.
Parting:
None
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.77 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.834 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Azurite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.730 nβ = 1.758 nγ = 1.838
2V:
Measured: 68° , Calculated: 64°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.108
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
High
Dispersion:
relatively weak
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
Pleochroic in blue, with absorption Z greater than Y greater than X.
Chemical Properties of Azurite
Formula:
Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Elements listed in formula:
Crystallography of Azurite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 5 Å, b = 5.84 Å, c = 10.35 Å
β = 92.33°
β = 92.33°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.856 : 1 : 1.772
Unit Cell Volume:
V 301.97 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Tabular {001}, less common {102} or {102}; prismatic [001] or [010]; sometimes equant or even rhombohedral; faces may be wavy with striations on {001} parallel to "a", on {100} parallel to "b." May also be massive, stalactic, or botryoidal.
Twinning:
Rare, across {101}, {102} or {001}.
Crystallographic forms of Azurite
Crystal Atlas:
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Azurite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Azurite no.87 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Azurite no.157 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Azurite no.301 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by
www.smorf.nl.
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Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes
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Opaque | Translucent | Transparent
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Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
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Edge Lines | Miller Indicies | Axes
Transparency
Opaque | Translucent | Transparent
View
Along a-axis | Along b-axis | Along c-axis | Start rotation | Stop rotation
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.15 | (60) |
| 5.08 | (30) |
| 3.67 | (50) |
| 3.52 | (100) |
| 2.54 | (30) |
| 2.51 | (40) |
| 2.29 | (40) |
| 2.22 | (70) |
Occurrences of Azurite
Type Occurrence of Azurite
Relationship of Azurite to other Species
Common Associates:
| 5.BA.10 | Georgeite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 5.BA.10 | Glaukosphaerite | (Cu,Ni)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Kolwezite | (Cu,Co)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Mcguinnessite | (Mg,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Nullaginite | Ni2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Pokrovskite | Mg2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Rosasite | (Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Zincrosasite | (Zn,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.10 | Chukanovite | Fe22+(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 5.BA.15 | Aurichalcite | (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| 5.BA.15 | Hydrozincite | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 |
| 5.BA.20 | Holdawayite | Mn6(CO3)2(OH)7(Cl,OH) |
| 5.BA.25 | Defernite | Ca6(CO3)2-x(SiO4)x(OH)7(Cl,OH)1-2x (x<0.5) |
| 5.BA.25 | UM1977-03-COSiO:CaClH | Ca10-11(CO3)7(SiO4)Cl1-2(OH)1-2 |
| 5.BA.30 | Loseyite | (Mn2+,Zn,Mg)4Zn3(CO3)2(OH)10 |
| 5.BA.30 | Sclarite | (Zn,Mg,Mn2+)4Zn3(CO3)2(OH)10 |
| 11.2.1 | Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 11.2.4 | Chalconatronite | Na2Cu(CO3)2 · 3H2O |
| 11.2.5 | Callaghanite | Cu2Mg2(CO3)(OH)6 · 2H2O |
Other Names for Azurite
Name in Other Languages:
Basque:Azurita
Catalan:Atzurita
Czech:Azurit
Dutch:Azuriet
Esperanto:Azurito
Finnish:Atsuriitti
Galician:Azurita
German:Azurit
Bergblau
Berglasur
Chessylit
Kupferlapis
Kupferlasur
Kupfer Lazur
Lazurit (of von Kobell)
Unächter Lasurstein
Bergblau
Berglasur
Chessylit
Kupferlapis
Kupferlasur
Kupfer Lazur
Lazurit (of von Kobell)
Unächter Lasurstein
Greek:Αζουρίτης
Hungarian:Azurit
Japanese:藍銅鉱
Lithuanian:Azuritas
Norwegian (Bokmål):Kobberlasur
Persian:لاجورد
Polish:Azuryt
Portuguese:Azurita
Romanian:Azurit
Russian:Азурит
Serbian (Cyrillic Script):Азурит
Slovak:Azurit
Slovenian:Azurit
Swedish:Azurit
Koppar-Lazur
Koppar-Lazur
Ukrainian:Азурит
Vietnamese:Azurit
Other Information
Other Information:
Soluble in dilute acids, ammonia, and hot concentrated solutions of NaHCO3. Slowly decomposed with removal of CO2 by boiling, but not by cold, water.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
A very minor ore of copper.
Azurite in petrology
Common component of (items highlighted in red)
References for Azurite
Reference List:
Wallerius, J.G (1747) Mineralogia, eller Mineralriket. Stockholm: 280 (as Cæruleum montanum).
Stütz (1798) Einricht. nat., Vienna: 49 (as Unächter Lasurstein).
Jameson, R. (1805): System of Mineralogy II. Bell and Bradfute Edinburgh, U.K. (542-544).
Beudant, F.S. (1832): Traité élémentaire de minéralogie (2nd ed.). Chez Verdière, Paris, France. 417.
Haidinger, Wm. (1845) Handbuch der bestimmenden Mineralogie. Vienna: 508 (as Lasur).
Rose (1851) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 84: 484.
Breithaupt, A. (1852) Berg.- und hüttenmännisches Zeitung, Freiberg, Leipzig (merged into Glückauf): 11: 101 (as Zinkazurit).
Brooke, H.J. and Miller, W.H. (1852) Introduction to Mineralogy by Wm. Phillips, London, 1823. New edition by Brooke and Miller, London: 594 (as Chessylite).
Kobell, Fr. Von (1853): 32 (as Lasurit).
Dana, J.D. (1868) System of Mineralogy, 5th. Edition, New York: 715.
Schrauf (1871) Konigliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Sitzber., Vienna: 64: 123.
Schröder (1874) Jb. Min.: 712.
Yeates (1889) American Journal of Science: 38: 405.
Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 295.
Lacroix (1909): 3: 756.
Merwin (1914) Journal of the Washington Academy of Science: 4: 253.
Schrader et al (1917) USGS Bulletin 624 (localities).
Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 5: 85.
Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 43.
Palache, C., Lewis, L.W. (1927) Crystallography of azurite from Tsumeb, Southwest Africa. American Mineralogist: 12: 99-143.
Stecher (1929) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Beil.-Bd., Heidelberg, Stuttgart: 59A: 159.
Zedlitz (1929) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 71: 1.
Brasseur (1931) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 77: 177.
Brasseur (1932) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 82: 195.
Brasseur (1933) Soc. roy. sc. Liége, Mem.: 18: 1.
Galbraith (1941) Arizona Bureau of Mines, Geology Series, Bull. 149.
Palache, C., Lewis, L.W. (1942) Errata: Crystallography of azurite from Tsumeb, Southwest Africa. American Mineralogist: 27: 334.
Beck (1946) Ph.D. thesis, Harvard University (unpublished).
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1951) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 264-269.
Gattow, G. & Zemann, J. (1958): Neubestimmung der Kristallstructur von Azurit,
Cu3(OH)2(CO. 3)2 Acta Crystallographica 11, 866-872.
Zigan, F., Schuster, H.D. (1972) Verfeinerung der Struktur von Azurit, CU3(OH)2(CO3)2, durch Neutronenbeugung. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 135: 416-436.
Gaines, R.V., Skinner, C.W.H., Foord, E.E., Mason, B., Rosenzweig, A. (1997) Dana's New Mineralogy: The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th. edition: 482.
Jeschke, H., Opahle, I., Kandpal, H., Valentí, R., Das, H., Saha-Dasgupta, T., Janson, O., Rosner, H., Brühl, A., Wolf, B., Lang, M., Richter, J., Hu, S., Wang, X., Peters, R., Pruschke, T., Honecker, A. (2011) Multi-step approach to microscopic models for frustrated quantum magnets - the case of the natural mineral azurite. Physical Review Letters: 106: 217201.
Stütz (1798) Einricht. nat., Vienna: 49 (as Unächter Lasurstein).
Jameson, R. (1805): System of Mineralogy II. Bell and Bradfute Edinburgh, U.K. (542-544).
Beudant, F.S. (1832): Traité élémentaire de minéralogie (2nd ed.). Chez Verdière, Paris, France. 417.
Haidinger, Wm. (1845) Handbuch der bestimmenden Mineralogie. Vienna: 508 (as Lasur).
Rose (1851) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 84: 484.
Breithaupt, A. (1852) Berg.- und hüttenmännisches Zeitung, Freiberg, Leipzig (merged into Glückauf): 11: 101 (as Zinkazurit).
Brooke, H.J. and Miller, W.H. (1852) Introduction to Mineralogy by Wm. Phillips, London, 1823. New edition by Brooke and Miller, London: 594 (as Chessylite).
Kobell, Fr. Von (1853): 32 (as Lasurit).
Dana, J.D. (1868) System of Mineralogy, 5th. Edition, New York: 715.
Schrauf (1871) Konigliche Akademie der Wissenschaften, Sitzber., Vienna: 64: 123.
Schröder (1874) Jb. Min.: 712.
Yeates (1889) American Journal of Science: 38: 405.
Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 295.
Lacroix (1909): 3: 756.
Merwin (1914) Journal of the Washington Academy of Science: 4: 253.
Schrader et al (1917) USGS Bulletin 624 (localities).
Goldschmidt, V. (1918) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 5: 85.
Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 43.
Palache, C., Lewis, L.W. (1927) Crystallography of azurite from Tsumeb, Southwest Africa. American Mineralogist: 12: 99-143.
Stecher (1929) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Beil.-Bd., Heidelberg, Stuttgart: 59A: 159.
Zedlitz (1929) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 71: 1.
Brasseur (1931) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 77: 177.
Brasseur (1932) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 82: 195.
Brasseur (1933) Soc. roy. sc. Liége, Mem.: 18: 1.
Galbraith (1941) Arizona Bureau of Mines, Geology Series, Bull. 149.
Palache, C., Lewis, L.W. (1942) Errata: Crystallography of azurite from Tsumeb, Southwest Africa. American Mineralogist: 27: 334.
Beck (1946) Ph.D. thesis, Harvard University (unpublished).
Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1951) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 264-269.
Gattow, G. & Zemann, J. (1958): Neubestimmung der Kristallstructur von Azurit,
Cu3(OH)2(CO. 3)2 Acta Crystallographica 11, 866-872.
Zigan, F., Schuster, H.D. (1972) Verfeinerung der Struktur von Azurit, CU3(OH)2(CO3)2, durch Neutronenbeugung. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 135: 416-436.
Gaines, R.V., Skinner, C.W.H., Foord, E.E., Mason, B., Rosenzweig, A. (1997) Dana's New Mineralogy: The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th. edition: 482.
Jeschke, H., Opahle, I., Kandpal, H., Valentí, R., Das, H., Saha-Dasgupta, T., Janson, O., Rosner, H., Brühl, A., Wolf, B., Lang, M., Richter, J., Hu, S., Wang, X., Peters, R., Pruschke, T., Honecker, A. (2011) Multi-step approach to microscopic models for frustrated quantum magnets - the case of the natural mineral azurite. Physical Review Letters: 106: 217201.
Internet Links for Azurite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-447.html
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The following Azurite specimens are currently listed for sale on minfind.com.
Santa Lucía Mine, Rambla Seca, La Peza, Granada, Andalusia, Spain