Chrysocolla

Chrysocolla is a very hard gemstone, which occurs in a wide range of colors. Only certain select qualities are suitable for the production of chrysocolla pigment. The pigment behaves more like jasper than like the other copper colors. Chrysocolla is an old term used to describe various materials used in the manufacture of gold, but it has been refined to refer to a single mineral, a copper hydroxide silicate (CuSiO3.nH2O). It is a mineral usually found in secondary mines. Chrysocolla is often found together with azurite and malachite in the same mine. In its natural state, it is very similar to malachite, but its color is slightly bluer. It retains its green color quite well after grinding and can be used as a pigment in aqueous media. Since copper is bonded to a silicate matrix, it is not a readily soluble pigment in acidic media, which is why it can be used in oil (unlike azurite and malachite). Intermediate shade between azurite and malachite.