Chrysocolla is a sky blue, blue green, green colored hydrated copper silicate mineral with traces of oxides of copper, iron and manganese and occurs as a compact, grape-like groups.

The general structure of chrysocolla is botryoidal. It is associated with malachite, turquoise, jasper and quartz. Crystals intergrown with quartz or with opal are more commonly used in jewellery. Chrysocolla intergrown with malachite and turquoise is known as eilat stone which originated from King Solomon's mines.

Eilat stone is the best simulant for turquoise and sometimes can not be differentiated easily by visual observation. Chrysocolla mixed with jasper is known as parrot-wing which is of course very rare and sought by many jewelers. Chrysocolla mixed with quartz is known as stellarite which is pale blue in color.

Chrysocolla along with eilat stone, parrot wing and stellarite is extensively used in jewelries as beads, rings, ear rings, pendants, lockets, bracelets etc.

Chemical Composition: 

Hydrated Copper Silicate - CuSiO₃.2H₂O

Colors / Varieties: 

Sky blue, blue-green, green; with traces of oxides of Cu, Fe and Mn is brown-black, mixed with quartz matrix.

Crystal System / Forms: 

Crypto-crystalline aggregates with an enamel like texture.

Hardness: 

2 - 4; increases to 7 with more quartz mixtures.

Specific Gravity: 

2.00 - 2.45

Cleavage / Fracture: 

Nil.

Optic Character: 

Anisotropic (D.R.); Uniaxial positive / A.G.G.

Lustre: 

Greasy to vitreous.

Refractive Index / Birefringence: 

1.50 (mean R.I.)

Pleochroism: 

None.

Dispersion: 

None.

Magnification: 

Aggregate surface texture. Botryoidal.

U.V. Fluorescence: 

Variable.

Spectrum: 

Not characteristic.

Cause of Color: 

Color varies with the impurity present. The blue color is due to the presence of copper.

Specific Tests: 

• Turns yellow with hydrochloric acid.
• Eilat stone: Chrysocolla mixed with malachite and turquoise.
• Parrot-wing: Chrysocolla mixed with jasper (brownish-green).
• Stellarite: Chrysocolla mixed with quartz has higher properties (light blue).

Synthesis: 

None.

Simulants (with separation tests): 

Turquoise (R.I., S.G., spectrum, structure)

Geological Occurrence: 

Oxidized zones of copper deposits. May be mixed with copper carbonates such as malachite and turquoise.

Sources: 

U.S.A. (New Mexico), Russia, Chile, Peru and Zaire.

Cuts & Uses: 

Cabochon, beads, carvings, etc.