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Chrysocolla
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Chrysocolla
Formula:
Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Colour:
Green, bluish green, blue, blackish blue to black, or brown and rarely yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous, Waxy, Earthy
Hardness:
2½ - 3½
Specific Gravity:
1.93 - 2.4
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
The name was first used by Theophrastus in 315 B.C. and comes from the Greek "chrysos", meaning "gold," and "kolla", meaning "glue," in allusion to the name of the material used to solder gold. André-Jean-François-Marie Brochant de Villiers revived the name in 1808.
A mineral of secondary origin, commonly associated with other secondary copper minerals, it is typically found as glassy botryoidal or rounded masses or bubbly crusts, and as vein fillings. Any acicular or fibrous chrysocolla "crystals" are all pseudomorphs.
Copper-bearing allophane may look similar.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Chrysocolla.
Copper-bearing allophane may look similar.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Chrysocolla.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1040
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1040:1
Similar Names
| Chrysocolla (of Agricola) | A synonym of Borax |
IMA Classification of Chrysocolla
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
(Cu2+2-xAlx)H2-xSi2O5(OH)4·nH2O
Classification of Chrysocolla
9.ED.20
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
D : Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
D : Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 7th ed.:
74.3.2.1
74.3.2.1
74 : PHYLLOSILICATES Modulated Layers
3 : Modulated Layers with joined strips
74 : PHYLLOSILICATES Modulated Layers
3 : Modulated Layers with joined strips
14.2.5
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
2 : Silicates of Cu
14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
2 : Silicates of Cu
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ccl | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Ccl | Kretz (1983) | Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279. |
| Ccl | Siivolam & Schmid (2007) | Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download |
| Ccl | Whitney & Evans (2010) | Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371 |
| Ccl | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Chrysocolla
Vitreous, Waxy, Earthy
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Green, bluish green, blue, blackish blue to black, or brown and rarely yellow
Comment:
Fe-rich samples have yellowish colours, Mn-rich samples are blackish.
Please see: https://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,6,371164,371218#msg-371218 , https://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,7,377608,377668#msg-377668 , https://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,106,353156
Please see: https://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,6,371164,371218#msg-371218 , https://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,7,377608,377668#msg-377668 , https://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,106,353156
Streak:
Light green (unknown for black or yellow varieties)
Hardness:
2½ - 3½ on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
None
None
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
1.93 - 2.4 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Chrysocolla
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.575 - 1.585 nβ = 1.597 nγ = 1.598 - 1.635
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.023 - 0.050
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (93°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (93°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Chemistry of Chrysocolla
Mindat Formula:
Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Crystallography of Chrysocolla
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.7 Å, b = 8.9 Å, c = 6.7 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.64 : 1 : 0.753
Unit Cell V:
339.89 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Most often found as cryptocrystalline to amorphous botryoidal aggregates and crusts. Crystals reported as fine acicular to fibrous, very rare.
Twinning:
None reported.
Comment:
Point Group: n.d.; Space Group: n.d.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 17.9 Å | (80) |
| 7.9 Å | (60) |
| 4.45 Å | (20) |
| 4.07 Å | (60) |
| 2.90 Å | (80) |
| 2.56 Å | (70) |
| 1.602 Å | (40) |
| 1.486 Å | (100) |
Comments:
Broad, low-intensity peaks. Weaker lines often diffuse. The pattern is fairly characteristic.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45b : [Other oxidized fumarolic minerals] | |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 56 : Slag and smelter minerals (see also #51 and #55) |
Geological Setting:
Found in the oxidation zone of copper deposits, often encrusting or replacing earlier secondary minerals.
Synonyms of Chrysocolla
Other Language Names for Chrysocolla
Basque:Krisokola
Catalan:Crisocol·la
Dutch:Chrysocolla
Galician:Crisocola
German:Chrysokoll
Berggrün (in part)
Chalcostaktit
Chalkostaktit
Demidovit
Dillenbergit
Kieselkupfer
Kieselmalachit
Kupferkiesel
Kupfermalachit
Pechkupfer
Pechkupfer (of Hausmann)
Berggrün (in part)
Chalcostaktit
Chalkostaktit
Demidovit
Dillenbergit
Kieselkupfer
Kieselmalachit
Kupferkiesel
Kupfermalachit
Pechkupfer
Pechkupfer (of Hausmann)
Hebrew:כריזוקולה
Italian:Crisocolla
Japanese:珪孔雀石
Latin:Viride montanum (in part)
Norwegian:Kobberkisel
Krysokoll
Krysokoll
Polish:Chryzokola
Portuguese:Crisocola
Simplified Chinese:硅孔雀石
Slovak:Chryzokol
Swedish:Koppargrün
Varieties of Chrysocolla
| Aluminian Chrysocolla | An Al-bearing variety of chrysocolla. See also pilarite, a mixture of chrysocolla and halloysite. |
| Aluminian Ferrian Chrysocolla | An Al- and Fe-bearing variety of chrysocolla. |
| Cornuite (of Rogers) | Described as "Amorphous equivalent of chrysocolla." |
| Cyanochalcite | Phosphorus-rich variety, supposedly with an insignificant impurity about 6.95 wt% P2O5 noted in Dana's 6th Edition from earlier analyses. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2,067 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
| 1,400 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 509 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Cuprite | Cu2O |
| 481 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Azurite | Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
| 325 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 260 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Dioptase | CuSiO3 · H2O |
| 212 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Wulfenite | Pb(MoO4) |
| 197 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Atacamite | Cu2(OH)3Cl |
| 190 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Tenorite | CuO |
| 187 photos of Chrysocolla associated with Native Copper | Cu |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.ED. | 'Clinochrysotile' | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.05 | Dickite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.05 | Nacrite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.05 | Kaolinite | Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.05 | Odinite | (Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)2.4((Si,Al)2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.10 | Halloysite | Al2Si2O5(OH)4 · n(H2O) |
| 9.ED.10 | Hisingerite | Fe3+2(Si2O5)(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.ED.10 | 'Hydrohalloysite' | Al2Si2O5(OH)4 · 2H2O |
| 9.ED.15 | Antigorite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Brindleyite | (Ni,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Fraipontite | (Zn,Al)3((Si,Al)2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Népouite | Ni3Si2O5(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Pecoraite | Ni3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Guidottiite | Mn2Fe3+(Fe3+SiO5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Lizardite | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Berthierine | (Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)3(Si,Al)2O5(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Kellyite | Mn2+2Al(AlSiO5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Cronstedtite | Fe2+2Fe3+((Si,Fe3+)2O5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Caryopilite | Mn2+3Si2O5(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Amesite | Mg2Al(AlSiO5)(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Greenalite | (Fe2+,Fe3+)2-3Si2O5(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.15 | Manandonite | Li2Al4(Si2AlB)O10(OH)8 |
| 9.ED.20 | Neotocite | (Mn,Fe)SiO3 · H2O (?) |
| 9.ED.20 | Allophane | (Al2O3)(SiO2)1.3-2 · 2.5-3H2O |
| 9.ED.20 | Imogolite | Al2SiO3(OH)4 |
| 9.ED.25 | Bismutoferrite | Fe3+2Bi(SiO4)2(OH) |
| 9.ED.25 | Chapmanite | Fe3+2Sb3+(Si2O5)O3(OH) |
| 9.ED.30 | 'Pianlinite' | Al2Si2O6(OH)2 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
A very minor ore of copper.
Internet Links for Chrysocolla
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1040.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
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References for Chrysocolla
Reference List:
Sun, Ming-Sban (1963) The nature of chrysocolla from Inspiration Mine, Arizona. American Mineralogist, 48 (5-6) 649-658
Throop, Allen H., Buseck, Peter R. (1971) Nature and Origin of Black Chrysocolla at the Inspiration Mine, Arizona. Economic Geology, 66 (8) 1168-1175 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.66.8.1168
McKeown, David A. (1994) X-ray absorption spectroscopic study of copper in an amorphous copper silicate: chrysocolla. Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 180 (1) 1-10 doi:10.1016/0022-3093(94)90390-5
Farges, F., Benzerara, K., Brown, G.E. (2006) Contributed to 13th International Conference On X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS13), July 9-14, 2006. Chrysocolla Redefined as Spertiniite, SLAC-PUB-12232.
Frost, Ray L.; Xi, Yunfei; Wood, Barry J. (2012) Thermogravimetric analysis, PXRD, EDX and XPS study of chrysocolla (Cu,Al)2H2Si2O5(OH)4·nH2O - structural implications. Thermochimica Acta, 545. 157-162 doi:10.1016/j.tca.2012.07.011
Frost, Ray L., Xi, Yunfei (2013) Is chrysocolla (Cu,Al)2H2Si2O5(OH)4·nH2O related to spertiniite Cu(OH)2?—A vibrational spectroscopic study. Vibrational Spectroscopy, 64. 33-38 doi:10.1016/j.vibspec.2012.10.001
Hariu, Tsuyoshi, Arima, Hiroshi, Sugiyama, Kazumasa (2013) The structure of hydrated copper-silicate gels, an analogue compound for natural chrysocolla. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 108 (2). 111-115 doi:10.2465/jmps.121022c
Stebbins, Jonathan F. (2017) Toward the wider application of 29Si NMR spectroscopy to paramagnetic transition metal silicate minerals: Copper(II) silicates. American Mineralogist, 102 (12). 2406-2414 doi:10.2138/am-2017-6176
Steven Kahou, Zia; Seydoux-Guillaume, Anne-Magali; Zanetta, Pierre-Marie; Duchêne, Stéphanie; Brichau, Stéphanie; Campos, Eduardo (2025) Nanoscale characterization of chrysocolla, black chrysocolla, and pseudomalachite from supergene copper deposits of Atacama Desert in northern Chile. American Mineralogist, 110 (8). 1329-1339 doi:10.2138/am-2024-9300
Monico, Sara; Conconi, Roberto; Tumiati, Simone; Bernasconi, Andrea; Capitani, Giancarlo; Adamo, Ilaria; Prosperi, Loredana; Gatta, G. Diego; Mácová, Petra; Ševčík, Radek; et al. (2026) Revealing the true nature of chrysocolla: From macro- to nano-characterization and first thermodynamic constraints. American Mineralogist, 111 (8). p.1275-1288. doi:10.2138/am-2025-9983
Localities for Chrysocolla
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L'Etoile du Congo Mine, Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo