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Stone : Azurite

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Azurite is an azure blue vitreous mineral of basic copper carbonate used as a copper ore and as a gemstone. Also called chessylite, Azurite is found with malachite in one stone in an appealing blue-green pattern called azure-malachite. It is derived from the Persian word "lazaward" and the Latin word "azura", meaning blue sky. The distinct blue color of this gemstone has made for its usage as a pigment for centuries.

Azurite is occasionally coated with colorless wax, or rarely impregnated with plastic and/or other hardened agents to improve the durability and appearance. It is found in many parts of the world in the upper oxidized portions of copper ore deposits near malachite, the green basic carbonate of copper. The gemstone is commonly found in countries like: Nambia, Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico, Australia, China, France, Greece, Sardinia and Ural Mountains of Russia.

Azurite has been used as a dye for paints, fabrics for eons and in making jewelry. Fine crystal clusters, nodular specimens, and interesting and beautiful combinations with malachite are important pieces in anyone's mineral collection. The magnificent color of azurite is considered to be unique in the mineral world.