Chrysocolla

Chrysocolla is safe to handle in its finished, polished state, but excessive exposure to its dust may lead to heavy metal poisoning. When cutting or polishing chrysocolla, wear a dust mask to minimize dust inhalation. Store it 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.

Color and weight are decisive factors affecting the price of chrysocolla. At about 2.5 cm across, the price of better-quality tumbled stone is usually $4-$10/piece.

Chrysocolla exhibits poor toughness due to its inherent structural fragility. Often found in a botryoidal form or as incrustations, it lacks firm cohesion among particles, making it highly susceptible to breakage under physical stress.

Chrysocolla is considered sensitive for daily use due to its susceptibility to water, heat, stains, and chemicals which can cause irreversible changes in appearance and structure.

Due to being somewhat more common than turquoise, its wide availability, and vivid, beautiful blue and blue-green colors, chrysocolla has been popular for use as a gemstone for carvings and ornamental use since antiquity. It is often used in silversmithing and goldsmithing in place of turquoise and is relatively easy to work and shape. Chrysocolla exhibits a wide range of Mohs hardness ranging from 2 through 7, which is dependent on the amount of silica incorporated into the stone when it is forming. Generally, dark navy blue chrysocolla is too soft to be used in jewelry, while cyan, green, and blue-green chrysocolla can have a hardness approaching 6, similar to turquoise. Chrysocolla Chalcedony is a heavily silicified form of chrysocolla that forms in quartz deposits and can be very hard and approach a hardness of 7.

Chrysocolla can often be found intermingled with malachite, azurite, and turquoise to form Eilat stone which is the national stone of Israel. It was used by early goldsmiths as a solder ingredient. Legend has it that Cleopatra carried chrysocolla stones wherever she went, believing that it would bring more creativity and femininity.

The name comes from the ancient Greek χρυσός (chrysos) and κολλα (kolla), "gold" and "glue," in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold and was first used by Theophrastus in 315 BC.

Notable occurrences include Bacan Islands, Indonesia, Israel, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile, Cornwall in England, and Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in the United States.

Chrysocolla has a cyan (blue-green) color and is a minor ore of copper, having a hardness of 2.5 to 7.0. It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies. Associated minerals are quartz, limonite, azurite, malachite, cuprite, and other secondary copper minerals. It is typically found as botryoidal or rounded masses and crusts, or vein fillings. Because of its light color, it is sometimes confused with turquoise. Notable occurrences include Bacan Islands, Indonesia, Israel, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile, Cornwall in England, and Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in the United States. A 2006 study has produced evidence that chrysocolla may be a microscopic mixture of the copper hydroxide mineral spertiniite, amorphous silica and water.

The name comes from the ancient Greek χρυσός (chrysos) and κολλα (kolla), "gold" and "glue," in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold and was first used by Theophrastus in 315 BC

Chrysocolla is a powerful stone that will activate and align all of the chakras for a more positive energy flow, and to release negative energy from the body. It is believed to encourage more heart-felt conversations with others, allowing the user to communicate their true feelings. It is often used during meditation and provides a calming and soothing energy when held in the hand.