A Geoscience Digital Image Library
A Geoscience Digital Image Library
| Title | Azurite and limonite on chalcopyrite and quartz, from Bisbee, Arizona |
|---|---|
| Description | Much of this sample is oxidized, so mineral identification is problematic. The blue material is azurite, Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 (copper carbonate hydroxide), and the reddish-orange material is limonite (iron oxide-hydroxide). Limonite is a popular mineral because of its unparalleled color, a deep “azure” blue, hence its name. The color is due to the presence of copper; many spectacular copper minerals are blue or green. The yellowy-green material in this sample is chalcopyrite, and much quartz is present but hard to identify because it has a dark color. The sample is 9 cm across. |
| Location | USA ▹ Arizona. Near Bisbee. |
| Photographer | Darla Sondrol. 2001-06-18. |
| Collection | University of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection #746. |
| Key words | azurite, limonite, chalcopyrite, quartz, Arizona |
| Tech details | 731 KB. Hand specimen. Fujifilm FinePix S1Pro digital camera; 60mm AF Nikon micro lens. |
| GeoDIL number | 753 |
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