Azurite

Azurite, also called Mountain Blue, Chessylit or azurite, is a commonly occurring mineral from the mineral class of carbonates. It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system with the chemical composition Cu3 ( CO3) 2 (OH ) 2 and are found most often in the form of small, in the rock embedded crystals with prismatic, kurzsäuligem or tafeligem habit, but also spherical, nieriger or powdered mineral aggregates of deep blue color in blue to light blue stroke color.

Etymology and history

For the etymology of the mineral name, see main article azure.

Azurite has been known for more than 4500 years. The Egyptians of the 4th dynasty used the powdered mineral as eyeshadow and murals. Also in the murals of Bonampak Maya azurite has been demonstrated.

Azurite received in 1824 by the French mineralogist François Beudant the style similar to the color azure name.

Classification

In the now outdated but still in use 8th edition of the mineral classification by Strunz the Azurite still belonged to the common mineral class of " carbonates, nitrates and borates " and then to the Department of " water clear carbonates with foreign anions ", where he, along with fellow eponymous Rosasit and the other members Aurichalcit, Brianyoungit, Georgeit, Glaukosphärit, Kolwezit, Loseyit, McGuinnessit, malachite, Nullaginit, Pokrovskit, Sclarit and Zinkrosasit the " Azurite- Rosasit series" forms.

Since the full review of the Strunz'schen Mineral classification in the 9th edition (2001) the mineral class of carbonates ( and relatives ) is redistributed and the borates form a separate class. The Azurite is therefore now in the mineral class of " carbonates and nitrates " and find it there in the department of " carbonates with other anions, without H2O". However, this is now a more specific breakdown of the individual involved cations and the mineral according to its composition in the subsection "With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn" sorted, where he was the only member of the unnamed group with the system no. 5.BA.05 forms.

In the commonly used in the English-speaking classification of minerals according to Dana, the carbonates, nitrates and borates form a common mineral class as in the outdated Strunz'schen systematics. The Azurite is there, however, in the department of " carbonates with hydroxyl or halogen, and the general formula ( AB) 3 ( XO3 ) 2ZQ " to find out where he is the unnamed group 16a.2.1 the only member.

Education and Locations

Azurite is a secondary mineral that is formed by chemical weathering of chalcopyrite, other copper sulphides and copper ores. Result of water absorption it converts also in the green malachite order and is therefore grown with him often to find and pseudomorphs of malachite after azurite are known. Azurite is often part of Kupferpecherz and occurs depending on the localities in paragenesis with various minerals such as Antlerite, Brochantite, calcite, chrysocolla, cerussite, cuprite, dolomite and smithsonite on.

In ancient Armenia, Cyprus and Spain (Andalusia ) main suppliers of azurite. Until the mid- 17th century Hungary was the most important source Azurite Europe. Later sources of supply, to about the end of the 19th century, were Chessy, near Lyons, Mechernich in the Eifel and the pits at Alghero in Sardinia. With the invention of " Prussian Blue " at the beginning of the 18th century the mineral in Europe lost its importance as a pigment.

Worldwide, azurite so far (as of 2010) are detected at around 3900 localities, so among other things in different regions of Afghanistan, Egypt, Antarctica, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Germany, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Greece, Greenland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Colombia, Cambodia, Canada, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cuba, Laos, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, Macedonia, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Namibia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norway, Austria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Zimbabwe, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, United Kingdom ( UK ), United States of America (USA).

Crystal structure

Azurite crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21 / c with lattice parameters a = 5.00 Å; b = 5.85 Å; c = 10.35 Å and β = 92.3 ° and two formula units per unit cell.

Use

Azurite is a copper ore, which has no economic significance. However, it can be detected as a gemstone and color pigment in ancient Egypt. Because of its rich, deep blue color and its high price was Azurite particularly in ingeniously painted medieval manuscripts using.

Manipulation and imitation

Since azurite as a gem too soft and sensitive (porous, good cleavage ), it is stabilized with plastic, which incidentally also increases gloss. Also mimic reconstructions from azurite and Malachitstaub ( processing residues), especially around the intergrowth Azurite Malachite are known.

Esoteric

In esoteric circles Azurite is considered as the stone of knowledge and spiritual growth. He is said to promote concentration and mental receptiveness, have a positive influence on the central nervous system by increasing the efficiency of the brain and the nervous activity and stimulates the senses. In addition, the mineral is said that it exerts a detoxifying effect on the body, the thyroid functions excitation and support the regeneration of the body after surgery or illness. For the effective range in esotericism, however, there is no scientific evidence.

Pictures of Azurite

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