Chrysocolla the Clever Gemstone

For thousands of years throughout the world Chrysocolla has been the stone of conciliation and reassurance. The ancient Egyptians called it a wise stone because those who wore it were known to come up with clever compromises and were protected from psychological damage. It was said that violent-tempered people where turned sensitive and tolerant when they wore Chrysocolla; apparently this is why Cleopatra carried the stone with her wherever she went. Interestingly, Egyptians referred to is as the softer brother of the gemstone Turquoise.

The term Chrysocolla originates in ancient times, and was applied by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus in 315BC to various materials used in soldering gold. The name is derived from the Greek word chrysos, meaning “Gold” and kola meaning “Glue”. It is a more commonly vine grained and massive gemstone. It is frequently found inter-growing among other gemstones such as Quartz, Chalcedony, Opal, Turquoise and Malachite. Chrysocolla is formed as an opaque copper silicate, mainly in seams of copper mines where it is oxidized in water; it is also known as copper pebbles or copper malachite. Color shades run from vibrate turquoise blues to green and are found mostly in Chile, the United States, Russia, South Africa and Israel.

Chrysocolla is particularly effective when carried as a touchstone and can be cleansed once a month under warm running water then charged overnight in a bowl with tumbled hematite stones. It is associated with the Sun stars of Taurus, Cancer, Aquarius, and Libra. Traditional properties include easing heartache, stamina, wisdom, peace, love, communication, vitality, and inner strength.

Raw mineral specimen photos provided by resident Gemologist.

Chrysocolla – What is it?

Chrysocolla is another one of Copper's crystal offspring. This hydrated Copper crystal has two distinct personalities. In its purest form, Chrysocolla is brittle, soft and unsuitable for jewelry and such, without undergoing enhancements. However, if silica is available to "agatize" a Chrysocolla specimen, the resulting crystal is an enchanting stone, hard enough to cut into jewelry, spheres and unique carvings. These Chrysocolla silicates are also known as gem silica.

Colors in Chrysocolla range from greenish blues, like Turquoise, to a Robin's egg blue in clear gem silica specimens. Like Azurite, Chrysocolla often occurs mixed with Malachite, Turquoise and the above, resulting in unusually beautiful gemstones.

Where is it found?
The stone forms after Copper deposits are diluted by hydrothermal solutions, often rich in silicates (Quartz) and other minerals. This material deposits in surface stones, where it is weathered away by rains and winds. Ultimately it leaches back into Mother finally crystallizing into Chrysocolla, as well as Turquoise, Malachite, Wulfenite, Azurite and dozens of other sedimentary gems.

Some of the finest specimens of Chrysocolla Gem Silica are found in the Arizona mines. The deposits in the Keystone mine were first discovered in 1905. Though Native Americans had mined similar material from nearby locations hundreds of years earlier.

It is believed that the Copper deposits that created this vast array of mineral and crystal specimens originated in the Arizona area between the middle of the Mesozoic era and the beginning of the Cenozoic. If you remember the history of Petrified Wood, at one time Arizona was a vast shallow sea that became buried. Eventually colliding land masses heaved plains into mountains, pushing the area's primal past back to the surface and creating ideal conditions for Copper to weather and recrystallize.

Similar occurrences of these Copper crystals are found in New Mexico and Sonora Mexico. Outside the US, Chrysocolla is also mined in Israel, Zaire, England, Russia, Namibia, Australia, Chile, Greece and China.

How it got it’s name?
The Greek roots of this gemstone's name seem to have little to do with the crystal itself. Chrysos is Greek for ‘old’ and ‘kolla’ means glue. Originally the term was applied to a substance used for soldering Gold. Not a single reference indicated how this name became stuck to the stone we call Chrysocolla.

Healing & Spiritual Properties
The healing properties of Chrysocolla are said to be used for easing heartache and stamina in health. For the inner self it provides wisdom, peace, love, communication, vitality and inner strength. It is an excellent gemstone used for meditations; holding a piece in your hand one could visualize peace and health emanating form the stone. It is also highly recommended for the treatment of arthritis and believed to have detoxifying properties as well as aid in digestion.

Reprint from Ore’s Featured Gemstones.