What Is Azurite Made Out of?

Azurite and Malachite

• Azurite is similar in composition to malachite, which is also a green copper carbonate whose crystals have a lower water content. The two minerals are often found together in deposits that occur in countries such as Africa, France, Australia, Chile and the U.S.

Crystals

• Azurite often occurs in stalactites with large prismatic crystals that can be translucent to opaque and range in color from light blue to royal blue. Azurite is not a hard mineral. On the scale of hardness, it only rates about a 3.5 to 4, compared to the rating of 10 for diamonds.

Other Facts

• Azurite is also referred to as chessylite, blue malachite or lapis armenius. It can be degraded by acid, but not by ethanol or water. Coarsely ground azurite yields a deep blue pigment, while a finer grind will be lighter and more transparent.