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Azurite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Mariusz Oleszczuk
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About AzuriteHide

Formula:
Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Colour:
Azure blue, blue, light blue, or dark blue; light blue in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
3.77
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
From the ancient Persian lazhward, meaning "blue", in allusion to the color. Name changed to azurite in 1824 by François 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




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
447
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:447:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
8081cadd-6894-410a-8cdb-8eed304969f3

IMA Classification of AzuriteHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

Classification of AzuriteHide

5.BA.05

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
11.2.2

11 : Carbonates
2 : Carbonates of Cu

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

SymbolSourceReference
AzuIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
AzuWhitney & Evans (2010)Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371

Pronunciation of AzuriteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of AzuriteHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Azure blue, blue, light blue, or dark blue; light blue in transmitted light
Streak:
Light blue
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
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 AzuriteHide

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:
r > v; strong
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Z ∧ c = –12°36′.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
Shades of blue.
Comments:
Absorption: Z > Y > X.

Chemistry of AzuriteHide

Mindat Formula:
Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2

Chemical AnalysisHide

Oxide wt%:
 1
CO325.46 %
CuO69.08 %
H2O5.46 %
Total:100 %

Crystallography of AzuriteHide

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°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.856 : 1 : 1.772
Unit Cell 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 AzuriteHide

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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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0008598AzuriteBelokoneva E L, Gubina Y K, Forsyth J B (2001) The charge density distribution and antiferromagnetic properties of azurite Cu3[CO3]2(OH)2 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 28 498-50720010293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
5.15 Å(60)
5.08 Å(30)
3.67 Å(50)
3.52 Å(100)
2.54 Å(30)
2.51 Å(40)
2.29 Å(40)
2.22 Å(70)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates]
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere<0.6
53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins<0.4
Geological Setting:
Found largely in the oxidized portions of copper deposits, it is a secondary mineral formed by the action of carbonated water acting on copper-containing minerals, or from Cu-containing solutions, such as CuSO^4 or CuCl^2 reacting with limestones.

Type Occurrence of AzuriteHide

Synonyms of AzuriteHide

Other Language Names for AzuriteHide

Varieties of AzuriteHide

KupferblauAn impure azurite that leaves a silica skeleton when dissolved in acid.
ZincazuriteDiscovered and published by J.F. Auguste Breithaupt in the 1850s, but later discredited as a species. A zinc rich azurite.

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
8,391 photos of Azurite associated with MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
851 photos of Azurite associated with QuartzSiO2
577 photos of Azurite associated with CerussitePbCO3
478 photos of Azurite associated with CalciteCaCO3
416 photos of Azurite associated with ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
323 photos of Azurite associated with OliveniteCu2(AsO4)(OH)
277 photos of Azurite associated with BaryteBaSO4
253 photos of Azurite associated with CupriteCu2O
250 photos of Azurite associated with DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
194 photos of Azurite associated with SmithsoniteZnCO3

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

5.BA.10Georgeite[Cu(OH)2-x(H2O)x][CO3]x/2Amor.
5.BA.10Glaukosphaerite(Cu,Ni)2(CO3)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
5.BA.10KolweziteCuCo(CO3)(OH)2Tric.
5.BA.10MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
5.BA.10Mcguinnessite(Mg,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2Mon. 2/m
5.BA.10NullaginiteNi2(CO3)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
5.BA.10PokrovskiteMg2(CO3)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
5.BA.10Rosasite(Cu,Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
5.BA.10Zincrosasite(Zn,Cu)2(CO3)(OH)2Mon.
5.BA.10ChukanoviteFe2+2(CO3)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
5.BA.10ParádsasváriteZn2(CO3)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
5.BA.10PerchiazziiteCo2(CO3)(OH)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
5.BA.15Aurichalcite(Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6Mon. 2/m : P21/m
5.BA.15HydrozinciteZn5(CO3)2(OH)6Mon. 2/m : B2/m
5.BA.20HoldawayiteMn6(CO3)2(OH)7(Cl,OH)Mon. 2/m : B2/m
5.BA.25DeferniteCa6(CO3)1.58(Si2O7)0.21(OH)7[Cl0.50(OH)0.08(H2O)0.42]Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
5.BA.25UM1977-03-COSiO:CaClHCa10-11(CO3)7(SiO4)Cl1-2(OH)1-2Mon.
5.BA.30Loseyite(Mn2+,Zn,Mg)4Zn3(CO3)2(OH)10Mon. 2/m
5.BA.30SclariteZn7(CO3)2(OH)10Mon. 2/m : B2/b

Fluorescence of AzuriteHide

Other InformationHide

Notes:
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 petrologyHide

An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.

Internet Links for AzuriteHide

References for AzuriteHide

Reference List:
(1942) New mineral names, Errata. American Mineralogist, 27 (4) 333-334 (Palache and Lewis (1927) Errata: Crystallography of azurite from Tsumeb, Southwest Africa)

Localities for AzuriteHide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListShow

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Mineral and/or Locality  
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