May 2022 – Azurite

The mineral of the month May is azurite, which is named after its characteristic blue colour. The azurite in the image comes from a mine in Tsumeb in Namibia, where exceptionally large crystals up to 20 cm in size are found. Azurite was already used as a gemstone and colour pigment in ancient Egypt. It often occurs together with malachite, which was April’s mineral of the month.

Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂

Locality: Tsumeb, Namibia

Size: 7x10x7 cm (HxLxW)

Weight: ca. 500 g