Chrysocolla with malachite – Kongo

Chrysocolla is a copper-based mineral known for its intense blue to blue-green color. It forms in oxidized zones of copper deposits and is often found alongside other colorful minerals such as malachite, azurite, cuprite, or limonite. Its chemical composition is a complex silicate with a variable water content.

Chrysocolla typically has a matte to vitreous luster and a hardness of 2.5 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively soft. In nature, it appears in massive, earthy form, but can also form veins, crusts, or botryoidal (grape-like) aggregates. Due to its vivid color, it is often mistaken for turquoise, though it is softer and has different optical properties.

Some of the most well-known chrysocolla localities include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Peru, Israel (Eilat area), and parts of the USA, especially Arizona and New Mexico.

Thanks to its color and exotic appearance, chrysocolla is popular in jewelry, especially in the form of cabochons, beads, and pendants. However, due to its lower hardness, it is better suited for earrings, pendants, or brooches rather than rings or bracelets that are subject to higher wear. It is also valued among collectors as a polished or decorative stone, often combined with other minerals.