Chrysocolla and Matrix

_{(please click image for full view)}

Title: Chrysocolla and Matrix
Medium: Digital Photography
Photographer: Aaron J. Greenblatt
Camera Type: Panasonic DMC-LZ7 Lumix 7.2 MP
Editing: Edited in PhotoShop 7.0 for color accuracy, size, and to apply copyright and border.

Location: Photograph taken at the 2008 Southeastern Michigan Gem and Mineral Show at the Southgate Civic Center in Southgate, Michigan. Show hosted by the Midwest Mineralogical & Lapidary Society.

Description: Sitting in a bin at the show were these chunks of chrysocolla on matrix. All of these pieces were found in Arizona. The larger ones (6-10 inches in length) were selling for $5 each while the smaller ones (under 6 inches) were selling for $3 each. The chrysocolla is the blue material and the matrix is the brown material and together they made for quite a striking color contrast. The pieces shown here are really only good for specimens since the chrysocolla layer was rather thin and crumbly.

An closeup view of this material can be seen here.

About Chrysocolla: Chrysocolla has an attractive blue-green color and is a minor ore of copper. It has a hardness of 2.5 to 3.5 which means that it's rather soft. Even so, chrysocolla is sometimes used as an ornamental stone. Due to its light color, it is sometimes confused with turquoise.

Chrysocolla is found in the oxidation zones of copper deposits. The name chrysocolla is often used to describe any massive, globular, glassy, blue to green copper-bearing silicate minerals which have not been specifically identified as to species. Thus chrysocolla is often referred to as a hydrated copper silicate. Multiple analysis of different chrysocolla compositions have been offered over the years and each one contained a unique mineral configuration.

Typically, chrysocolla is found as glassy botryoidal or rounded masses and crusts, or vein fillings. Commonly, chrysocolla occurs as porous crusts unsuitable for gem use - such as the pieces in the above image. However, high quality, gem grade chrysocolla can be translucent and is highly prized.

Information Sources:
[link] (mindat)
[link] (wiki)

Legal: Copyright © Aaron J. Greenblatt. All rights reserved. Commercial use prohibited. This image and commentary may not be used for any reason without expressed written consent.


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