Azurite

With Stunning color and beauty AZURITE is another important copper ore like Chrysocolla, Turquoise and Malachite. In many of the locations where the green Malachite is found, there will be stones in that bright color of Azure blue...hence the name, Azurite. Most often the stones will be both blue and green representing a mixture of Malachite and Azurite.....and sometimes, as in this material, Chrysocolla will also be present giving the stone a 3-color design. Azurite occurs in only the oxidized portions of the copper ore veins which are located near the surface of the ground. Since most of this surface area has been mined out for years, Azurite itself has become quite scarce, while its cousin Malachite is very abundant in many parts of the world. Most Azurite rough material has been stabilized, as it is a relatively softer gemstone on the Mohs scale. Extra care should be taken while setting or wrapping Azurite so as not to damage the stone.