Chrysocolla
| Colour | Blue, Green, Black, Brown |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 2.5–3.5 (7 for chrysocolla chalcedony, high-silica content) |
| Lustre | Vitreous to dull |
| Streak | White to a blue-green color |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic Unknown space group |
| Transparency | Translucent to opaque |
| Cleavage | none |
| Fracture | Irregular/uneven, sub-conchoidal |
| Chemical formula | {{chem2|Cu_{2 – x}Al_{x}(H2Si2O5)(OH)4*nH2O}} (x < 1) |
| Specific gravity | 1.9–2.4 |
What is Chrysocolla?
Chrysocolla ( KRIS-ə-KOL-ə) is a hydrous copper phyllosilicate mineral and mineraloid with the formula Cu2 – xAlx(H2Si2O5)(OH)4⋅nH2O (x < 1) or (Cu, Al)2H2Si2O5(OH)4⋅nH2O).
How to identify Chrysocolla
- Lustre: Vitreous to dull.
- Hardness: Mohs 2.5–3.5 (7 for chrysocolla chalcedony, high-silica content) — soft; a knife will scratch it.
- Streak: White to a blue-green color.
- Habit: Orthorhombic Unknown space group crystal system.
Chrysocolla in different forms
Stones often confused with Chrysocolla
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Chrysocolla?
Chrysocolla is Mohs 2.5–3.5 (7 for chrysocolla chalcedony, high-silica content) on the hardness scale.
What colour is Chrysocolla?
Chrysocolla is typically blue, green, black, brown (Blue, cyan (blue-green), green, dark blue to black, brown, rarely yellow).