mineral

Chrysocolla in Matrix

Hydrated copper phyllosilicate, (Cu,Al)2H2Si2O5(OH)4·nH2O

Hardness: 2.5 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Color: Vibrant cyan, turquoise blue, and green, often mixed with brown and tan host rock. Luster: Vitreous to earthy or dull. Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic, typically found in amorphous, botryoidal, or vein-filling masses. Specific Gravity: 2.0 to 2.4.

Hardness: 2
Luster: Vitreous to earthy or dull

Identified August 3, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in the oxidized zones of copper ore bodies, created by circulating hydrothermal fluids and groundwater interacting with primary copper minerals, often occurring in arid or semi-arid environments.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as an ornamental stone, in lapidary arts for cabochons and inlay work, and highly sought after by mineral collectors.

Geological facts

Chrysocolla is often confused with turquoise due to its similar striking blue-green coloration, but it is significantly softer and forms in silicate-rich copper deposits.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified in the field by its characteristic bright blue-green veins cutting through a brownish or matrix host rock, combined with its relatively low hardness and lack of cleavage. Found worldwide in copper-rich mining regions such as the southwestern United States, Chile, Peru, and Russia.

Other mineral specimens

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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments

Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate

sedimentary

Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)

FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)

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Septarian Pebble

Septarian nodule / Concretion

sedimentary

Schist

Metamorphic

Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)

Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)

mineral