Azurite Mineral Data

General Azurite Information

Chemical Formula:

Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 344.67 gm

Copper 55.31 % Cu 69.24 % CuO

Hydrogen 0.58 % H 5.23 % H₂O

Carbon 6.97 % C 25.54 % CO₂

Oxygen 37.14 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂

Environment:

Secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of copper ore deposits.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) Prehistoric

Locality:

Tsumeb near Otavi, Namibia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Persian lazhward, meaning "blue.".

Name Pronunciation:

Azurite

Synonym:

Chessylite

ICSD 2934

PDF 11-682

Azurite Image

Images:

Azurite Malachite

Comments: Dark blue stubby pyramidal azurite crystals and green botryoidal-shaped radial aggregates of malachite.
Location: Nevada Lode Mine, San Juan Co., Utah, USA. Scale: 4 cm.
© Dave Barthelmy

Images:

Clinotyrolite Azurite

Comments: Light blue acicular crystals of clinotyrolite on dark blue azurite.
Location: Lovelock mine, Churchill County, Nevada, USA. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Images:

Azurite

Comments: Sharp, dark blue, crystalline azurite group.
Location: Puit IX, Touissit, Oujda. Scale: 5 x 3.3 x 1.3 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Images:

Cyanotrichite Azurite

Comments: Blue, hairy crystals of cyanotrichite with dark-blue, blocky azurite on a green, malachite matrix.
Location: Maid of Sunshine Mine, Cochise County, Arizona, USA. Scale: See Image.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Azurite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.8569:1:1.7686

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.008, b = 5.844, c = 10.336, Z = 2; beta = 92.333° V = 302.25 Den(Calc)= 3.79

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - Prismatic H-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2₁/a

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.516(1), 2.224(0.7), 5.15(0.55),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 0 1 1) ( 1 1 0) ( 1 0 2) ( 0 1 3) ( 1 0 0) ( 1 1 1) ( 0 0 1)

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Physical Properties of Azurite

Cleavage:

{011} Perfect, {100} Fair

Color:

Azure blue, Blue, Light blue, Dark blue.

Density:

3.77 - 3.89, Average = 3.83

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to subtranslucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Prismatic - Crystals Shaped like Slender Prisms (e.g. tourmaline).

Habit:

Stalactitic - Shaped like pendant columns as stalactites or stalagmites (e.g. calcite).

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Hardness:

3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

light blue

Optical Properties of Azurite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.069 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.08 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2046,KPDmeas= 0.2024,KC= 0.1894
Ncalc = 1.71 - 1.74

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.73, b=1.758, g=1.838, bire=0.1080, 2V(Calc)=64, 2V(Meas)=68. Dispersion relatively weak.

Pleochroism (x):

clear blue.

Pleochroism (y):

clear blue.

Pleochroism (z):

dark purple.

Calculated Properties of Azurite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.67 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Azurite =3.83 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0009457773
Boson Index = 0.9990542227

Photoelectric:

PE_Azurite= 24.43 barns/electron
U=PE_Azurite x rElectron Density= 89.58 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Azurite is Not Radioactive

Azurite Classification

Dana Class:

16a.02.01.01 (16a)Carbonates - Hydroxyl or Halogen

(16a.02)where (A B)3 (XO3)2 Zq

(16a.02.01)Dana Group

16a.02.01.01 Azurite Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 P 2₁/a 2/m

Strunz Class:

05.BA.05 05 - CARBONATES (NITRATES)

05.B - Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O

05.BA -With Cu, Co, Ni, Zn, Mg, Mn

05.BA.05 Azurite Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 P 2₁/a 2/m

Other Azurite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Mason68)

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Azurite Specimen Label here :

Azurite

Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Dana No: 16a.02.01.01 Strunz No: 05.BA.05
Locality:

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