Description
CHRYSOCOLLA SPECIMEN
This is the polished chrysocolla specimen. Dimensions: 3.0 x 2.6 x 0.7″ (7.7 x 6.5 x 1.8cm). Weight – 4.4oz (125 grams). Origin: Russia, Transbaikalia.
Some information about chrysocolla:
Chrysocolla is a hydrated copper phyllosilicate mineral. The structure of the mineral has been questioned, as spectrographic studies suggest material identified as chrysocolla may be a mixture of the copper hydroxide spertiniite and chalcedony.
Chrysocolla has a cyan (blue-green) color and is a minor ore of copper, having a hardness of 2.5 to 3.5.
The name comes from the Ancient Greek: chrysos kolla, “gold glue”, in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold, and was first used by Theophrastus in 315 BCE.