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Mineralpedia Details for Aurichalcite

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Aurichalcite

Aurichalcite

Named for the Latin word for “brass,” aurichalcum, which itself comes from the words for the colors gold, aurum, and copper, chalceus. Aurichalcite is a relatively common mineral with hundreds of widespread, worldwide localities including as good specimens from Russia, Italy, Greece, France, USA, Mexico, Iran, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Aurichalcite can be found in oxidized copper and zinc deposits in association with rosasite, smithsonite, hemimorphite, hydrozincite, malachite, and azurite.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/aurichalcite.pdf

Formula
Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 
Crystal System
Monoclinic 
Crystal Habit
Druse, Encrustations, Acicular 
Cleavage
Perfect, None, None 
Luster
Pearly 
Color
pale green, sky blue, greenish blue 
Streak
light blue 
Class
Monoclinic - Prismatic 
Fracture
Uneven 
Hardness
WebMineral
View Aurichalcite 
Mindat
View Aurichalcite 

Aurichalcite from Evelyn Mine, Northwest Territories, Australia

Aurichalcite
            from Evelyn Mine, Northwest Territories, Australia

Aqua-blue crystal sprays to 3mm across deep in a pocket associated with probable Hydrozincite.

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Aurichalcite from 79 mine, Gila Co., Arizona, United States

Aurichalcite
            from 79 mine, Gila Co., Arizona, United States

Aqua blue sprays of acicular crystals to 6mm.

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Aurichalcite from North End, Mine Hill, Franklin, New Jersey, United States

Aurichalcite
            from North End, Mine Hill, Franklin, New Jersey, United States

Aqua-blue micro crystals in 1mm "patches" throughout matrix

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Aurichalcite from Greystones quarry, Lezant, Cornwall, England

Aurichalcite
            from Greystones quarry, Lezant, Cornwall, England

Rich specimen filled with aqua-colored Aurichalcite clusters to 4mm amongst the numerous vugs.

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Aurichalcite from Omega mine, Pinal Co., Arizona, United States

Aurichalcite
            from Omega mine, Pinal Co., Arizona, United States

Velvety, compact crystal balls of Aurichalcite to 4mm

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Aurichalcite from Grandview mine, Coconino Co., Arizona, United States

Aurichalcite
            from Grandview mine, Coconino Co., Arizona, United States

Compact greenish blue crystal tufts to 1mm across composed of lath-like crystals.

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Aurichalcite from Machen quarry, Machen, Glamorgan, Wales

Aurichalcite
            from Machen quarry, Machen, Glamorgan, Wales

Aqua blue, thin bladed crystals in radial balls to 1mm.

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Aurichalcite from Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, United States

Aurichalcite
            from Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, United States

Light green compact groups of Aurichalcite with Calcite. Nice specimen for this locality.

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Aurichalcite from Mine Hill, Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, United States

Aurichalcite
            from Mine Hill, Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, United States

Light bluish green crystals of Aurichalcit in spherical aggregate to 7mm, which is good size for any Aurichalcite.

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Aurichalcite from Chief mine, Empire dist., Pima Co., Arizona, United States

Aurichalcite
            from Chief mine, Empire dist., Pima Co., Arizona, United States

Bladed crystals to 6mm.

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Aurichalcite from San Antonio mine, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico

Aurichalcite
            from San Antonio mine, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico

Beautiful thin bladed divergent sprays to 7mm.

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Aurichalcite from Block 14 Opencut, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Aurichalcite
            from Block 14 Opencut, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

There are several minerals on this specimen. The Aurichalcite is typical bluish green and bladed but very micro in size. There is also light greenish yellow groups of Smithsonite, colorless, bladed Hemimorphite, and bladed Linarite. 

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Aurichalcite from Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

Aurichalcite
            from Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico

A large cabinet specimen with superb bladed crystals of Aurichalcite in divergent sprays to 3mm. Amongst the Aurichalcite are blue balls of rosasite to 4mm and areas of black, shiny very tiny cubic Murdochite crystals.

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Aurichalcite from Sterling Hill mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, United States

Aurichalcite
            from Sterling Hill mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, United States

Tiny 2mm or less bluish sprays throughout the matrix. Good specimen for the locality. 

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Aurichalcite from Kelly mine, Socorro Co., New Mexico, United States

Aurichalcite
            from Kelly mine, Socorro Co., New Mexico, United States

This specimen has got to be one of the best Kelly mine Aurichalcites around. It has thick coverage of thin platy blue crystals in 3-4mm rosettes. There are crystals on the front and back with good micro bluish white crystals of Smithsonite  on the base. It is as good as it looks and definitely museum quality.

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Aurichalcite from Flux mine, Patagonia, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, United States

Aurichalcite
            from Flux mine, Patagonia, Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, United States

Collected by Hampson in 1968, this specimen is a good example and seldomly seen Aurichalcite from this mine known for jack-straw Cerussite. It's a good, rich specimen with groups of Aurichalcite to 4mm across.

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