Azurite, Broken Hill, New South Wales...

crocoite · Post by **crocoite** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 1:51 am

Broken Hill is the mecca for collectors of Australian minerals. Over the years, it has produced a range of stunning mineral specimens. Azurite is uncommon, and highly sought after. FOV 4mm.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 3:27 am

I have never seen azurite crystals before...very stunning Steve. I love when malachite & azurite are together (like in beads or spheres) makes it look like little earths with the green land and blue water

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:43 am

Very beautiful.

Pity, it is unstable and must be stored in a dark and cool place.

crocoite · Post by **crocoite** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 1:55 am

MacroLuv wrote:Very beautiful. Pity, it is unstable and must be stored in a dark and cool place.

Hi Nikola. You might be thinking of chalcanthite, a copper sulphate. Azurite is stable.

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:07 am

crocoite wrote: Hi Nikola. You might be thinking of chalcanthite, a copper sulphate. Azurite is stable.

Getting puzzled now...

I thought that bright light and open air tend to reduce the intensity of its color over time.

crocoite · Post by **crocoite** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:50 am

MacroLuv wrote:Getting puzzled now... I thought that bright light and open air tend to reduce the intensity of its color over time.

Many minerals can be affected over time by (eg) bright sunlight, but there are no specific requirements for keeping specimens of azurite. To give you an example, this particular specimen was originally collected in the 1950s or 1960s, possibly earlier, and then spent time in who knows what environments. One that I do know about is that this specimen along with many others was destined for the tip (Australian term for the place your rubbish or trash goes) and spent a number of months in a wheel barrow outside in the hot sun. It's lustre and beauty were not diminshed.

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:30 am

I've made a google search and found some interesting links.

Mineralogy Database
Crystalarium

Wikipedia - Azurite page says: ... "Azurite is unstable in open air with respect to malachite, and often is pseudomorphically replaced by malachite."...

crocoite · Post by **crocoite** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:51 am

MacroLuv wrote: "Azurite is unstable in open air with respect to malachite, and often is pseudomorphically replaced by malachite."...

It probably depends on the conditions. Here no problem. Maybe elsewhere, problem?

Cyclops · Post by **Cyclops** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 3:52 am

Really vivid blue there, contrasts nicely with the green! BTW, is this the same crystal as in our Avatar?

crocoite · Post by **crocoite** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:06 am

Cyclops wrote:BTW, is this the same crystal as in our Avatar?

Hi Cyclops. Same mineral, but from a different locality...

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:15 am

crocoite wrote: It probably depends on the conditions. Here no problem. Maybe elsewhere, problem?

Maybe Wikipedia has a problem?

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:16 am

Quite a beautiful specimen there Steve and a very interesting thread it has provided.

I donot know a lot about minerals or rocks...or I donot know anything about them for that matter, except for one time I threw a rock, as most young boys do, and ended up breaking a window. So, I do know that rocks will get your behind busted!

crocoite · Post by **crocoite** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:34 am

MacroLuv wrote:Maybe Wikipedia has a problem?

Noooo....

Can't have that. My boss has a saying "it must be true, I read it on the internet".

As you would probably guess, I have a few books on minerals. I just did a quick scan and can't find any reference to problems with azurite.

I think I will stick with my own experiences

crocoite · Post by **crocoite** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:36 am

Ken Ramos wrote:one time I threw a rock, as most young boys do, and ended up breaking a window. So, I do know that rocks will get your behind busted!

Thanks Ken. For me it was a cricket ball

(have to go now. got to pick up son from work. Ugh! snow...)

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 4:53 am

In my case it was a sling.