Aurichalcite

It's advisable to handle aurichalcite carefully to avoid generating dust and wash hands thoroughly afterward. When cutting or polishing aurichalcite, wear a dust mask to prevent inhaling heavy metal particles. Store aurichalcite in a sealed container in a well-ventilated area, away from children and pets. For those involved in crystal healing, never put it in your mouth.

Aurichalcite typically occurs in the oxidized zone of copper and zinc deposits. Associated minerals include: rosasite, smithsonite, hemimorphite, hydrozincite, malachite and azurite. It was first described in 1839 by Bottger who named the mineral for its zinc and copper content after the Greek όρειχαλκος, for "mountain brass" or "mountain copper", the name of a fabulous metal. The type locality is the Loktevskoye Mine, Upper Loktevka River, Rudnyi Altai, Altaiskii Krai, Western Siberia, Russia.

Aurichalcite is composed of zinc and copper, and its presence can be used to indicate where zinc deposits may be found. Although it contains the components of brass, it occurs infrequently and there is no way to extract the brass. It is quite rare, and therefore often enjoyed as a collector’s item.

The type locality is the Loktevskoye Mine, Upper Loktevka River, Rudnyi Altai, Altaiskii Krai, Western Siberia, Russia.

It was first described in 1839 by Bottger who named the mineral for its zinc and copper content after the Greek όρειχαλκος, for "mountain brass" or "mountain copper", the name of a fabulous metal.