mineral

Chrysocolla

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

Hardness: 2.5 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale. Color: Green, blue-green, cyan, or turquoise. Luster: Vitreous to earthy or dull. Crystal structure: Orthorhombic, typically amorphous or cryptocrystalline, occurring in botryoidal, rounded masses or veins. Specific gravity: 2.0 to 2.4.

Hardness: 2
Color: Green, blue-green, cyan, or turquoise
Luster: Vitreous to earthy or dull

Identified August 6, 2026More mineral →

Explore Chrysocolla in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies, typically in arid or semi-arid environments where copper-rich solutions interact with silica-bearing fluids.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as an ornamental stone, in lapidary arts for cabochons and beads, and as a minor ore of copper.

Geological facts

Chrysocolla gets its vivid blue-green color from the presence of copper within its chemical structure. It is often found intergrown with other copper minerals such as malachite, azurite, and quartz.

Field identification & locations

Easily identified by its distinct blue-green color and relative softness (often scratching with a fingernail or copper penny). Found worldwide in copper-mining regions such as the southwestern United States, Chile, Peru, and Russia.

Other mineral specimens

See all

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)

mineral

Septarian Pebble

Septarian nodule / Concretion

sedimentary

Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)

Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)

mineral

Schist

Metamorphic