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Mineral - Azurite

AzuriteCu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Carbonates
Toxicity
low
Formula
Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂
Unit Cell
a=5.01 b=5.85 c=10.35 β=42° Z=2
Physical Properties
Hardness
3.5 - 4
Streak
blueblue white
Density
Heavy (3,5-6)
Cleavage
Perfect after {011}, but interrupted, good after {100}, poor after {110}
Fracture
conchoidal
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
blue
Birefringence
0.108
Luster
Vitreous,
Greasy
Transparency
translucent,
transparent,
opaque
Pleochroism
Schwach (verschiedene Blautöne)
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
monoclinic
Point Group
monoclinic-prismatic - 2/m
Space Group
P2 1 /c (14)
Habit
blocky, coarse, crusty, spherical, massive, kidney-shaped, prismatic, Rhombohedron, tabular
Formation
In the oxidation zone of supergene copper deposits
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Very common
Synonyms
Azurite
Composition
Elements
Mass
CO₃
25.46
CuO
69.08
H₂O
5.46
France (Palache et al. 1952)

Name and first discovery: Named after the Persian word "lazhward" for "blue". First described in 1824.

Chemism: 

Synonyms: Armenite, hydrous copper carbonate, chessylite, lasurite

Varieties: Copper blue, zinc azurite

Abbreviation: Azu

 

Famous locations

(TL) Type locality                          (analysis) Chemical element distribution, see above

 

France

(TL) (Analysis) Chessy-les-Mines, Chessy, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Cap Garonne Mine, Le Pradet, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

 

Afghanistan

Imam Rabat, Nawzad, Helmand, Afghanistan

 

Australia

Mount Hope Copper Mine, Mount Hope, New South Wales, Australia

Girilambone Copper Mine, Girilambone, New South Wales, Australia

East Pit, Mineral Hill Field, New South Wales, Australia

Great Cobar Mine, Cobar, New South Wales, Australia

Broken Hill, Yancowinna County, New South Wales, Australia

Malbunka Copper Mine, Areyonga, Northern Territory, Australia

Burra Burra Copper Mine, Burra, South Australia, Australia

Sir Dominick Mine, Yudnamutana, South Australia, Australia

Spring Creek Mine, Wilmington, South Australia, Australia

Boomerang Mine, Gunpowder District, Queensland, Australia

 

Chile

Rajos de California Mine, Zapallar Mining District, Atacama, Chile

Manto Cuba Mine, San Pedro de Cachiyuyo Mining District, Atacama, Chile

 

China

Liufengshan Mine, Guichi, Anhui, China

Tongshan Mine, Guichi, Anhui, China

Shilu Mine, Yangchun County, Guangdong, China

Tongshankou Mine, Daye County, Hubei, China

Chengmenshan Mine, Jiujiang County, Jiangxi, China

 

Germany

Clara mine, Oberwolfach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Schmitt Quarry, Altenmittlau, Hesse, Germany

Wheel of Fortune Mine, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Lower Saxony, Germany

Leibnitz-Dante Mine, Rösrath, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Gottessegen Quarry, Griesberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

 

DR Congo

Shangulowé Mine, Kambove, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

Kimbwe Mine, Kambove, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

Kipushi Mine, Kipushi, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

Lupoto Mine, Kipushi, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

Dikulushi Mine, Pweto, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo

 

Greece

Kamariza Mines, Lavrion Mining District, Attica, Greece

 

Ireland

Tynagh Mine, Killimor, Connacht, Ireland

 

Italy

Vallone di Elva Mine, Stroppo, Piedmont, Italy

Sa Duchessa Mine, Domusnovas, Sardinia, Italy

Cape Calamita Mine, Capoliveri, Tuscany, Italy

 

Canada

Empress of India Occurrence, McIntyre Creek, Yukon, Canada

 

Kazakhstan

Dzhezkazgan Mining District, Karaganda, Kazakhstan

Karashoshak Mine, Jezkazgan, Ulytau, Kazakhstan

Itauz Mine, Satpayev, Ulytau, Kazakhstan

 

Laos

Khanong open pit, Sepon Mine, Savannakhet, Laos

 

Morocco

Kerrouchene, El Kbab Cercle, Béni Mellal-Khénifra, Morocco

Touissit-Bou Beker Mining District, Jerada, Oriental Region, Morocco

Aouli, Mibladen, Midelt Cercle, Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco

M'Ssici, Alnif Cercle, Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco

Oumjrane Mining District, Alnif Cercle, Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco

Bou Nahas Mine, Alnif Cercle, Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco

Bou Skour Mine, Agdz Cercle, Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco

Rhar el Anz, Cherrat Wadi, Casablanca-Settat, Morocco

 

Mexico

Sierra Rica, Manuel Benavides, Chihuahua, Mexico

Los Olivos Mine, Valle de Rosario, Chihuahua, Mexico

Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico

Aranzazú Mine, Concepción del Oro, Zacatecas, Mexico

San Carlos Mine, Mazapil, Zacatecas, Mexico

 

Namibia

Tsumeb Mine, Oshikoto, Namibia

 

Austria

Brixlegg, Kufstein, Tyrol, Austria

 

Pakistan

Khaplu, Ghanche, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

 

Poland

Miedzianka, Gmina Chęciny, Holy Cross, Poland

 

Russia

Rubtsovsk Mine, Rubtsovsky, Altai Krai, Russia

Imeni XIX Parts'ezda Deposit, Mezhozerny, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia

Kamenushinskoe Cu Deposit, Salairsky Mine, Kemerovo Oblast, Russia

 

Zambia

Nchanga Mine, Chingola, Copperbelt Province, Zambia

Kabwe Mine, Kabwe, Central Province, Zambia

 

Slovakia

Drienok, Poniky, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

Piesky, Špania Dolina, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia

 

Spain

Poderosa Mine, El Campillo, Andalusia, Spain

San Telmo Mine, El Cerro de Andévalo, Andalusia, Spain

Delfina Mine, Hoyos de Alda, Asturias, Spain

Berta Mine, Sant Cugat del Vallès-El Papiol, Catalonia, Spain

Les Ferreres Mine, Rocabruna, Catalonia, Spain

San Valentín Mine, La Unión, Murcia, Spain

Cueva de la Guerra Antigua Mine, Villahermosa del Rio, Valencia, Spain

 

UK

Great Sleddale, Muker, England, UK

Cannington Park Quarry, Sedgemoor, England, UK

Wheal Gorland, St Day, Cornwall, England, UK

 

Hungary

Kozári Quarry, Pécs, Baranya, Hungary

Andrássy II. Mine, Rudabánya, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, Hungary

 

USA

Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, USA

Morenci Mine, Morenci, Greenlee County, Arizona, USA

Ray Mine, Scott Mountain, Pinal County, Arizona, USA

Blue Ball Mine, Globe, Gila County, Arizona, USA

Hanover #2 Mine, Hanover-Fierro Mining District, Grant County, New Mexico, USA

Blue Crystal Mine, Lisbon Valley Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA

Mammoth Mine, Tintic Mining District, Juab County, Utah, USA

La Sal, San Juan County, Utah, USA

 

 

Literature

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1952). Dana's system of mineralogy. GeologiskaFöreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 74(2), 218-219.