Azurite (stone): properties magical and therapeutic

Azurite is a stone whose properties have attracted the attention of man since ancient times. It is a natural mineral, one of the subspecies of copper ore. It differs with rich shades of azure blue, glass shine and perfectly smooth edges. By nature, a brittle enough mineral has an interesting feature - over time it turns into a precious green stone malachite.

Azurite (stone): description

It is one of the most ancient minerals known to man. The stone is very beautiful, has a pleasant blue or blue tint. This filling of the gem of the celestial blue fascinates. Long ago a stone was considered an attribute of druids and shamans, it became a muse of brilliant icon painters and great artists.

Azurite - a stone whose properties are considered unique, its incredibly attractive appearance is the cherished dream of many collectors all over the world. Its crystal-clear blue light illuminates the arches of the famous Sistine Chapel.

Characteristics of the stone

Despite the fact that the mineral is one of the varieties of copper ore, it is not valued as high as malachite. Its name comes from the word azur, which is translated from French as "lazuli". And the stone fully justifies this name: exquisite rich blue color, amazing glass shine and perfectly smooth edges make it spectacular and memorable.

Azurite is a stone whose properties can be called unique. It is the only mineral in the world that boils in hydrochloric acid. Its crystals have a complex shape. In addition to the name known to specialists, the stone has other names. For example, the French call it a sessile, in honor of the city of Szessi, which in olden times was famous for the extraction of azurite. In addition, the mineral is often called copper azure, copper blue, copper lapis, mountain blue, armenite.

Azurite is a stone, the properties of which have been thoroughly studied to date. It is formed in polymetallic and copper ores as a result of the oxidation of copper minerals (primary). Copper carbonate, containing hydroxyl anions - this is the azurite (stone). The characteristic of its chemical composition sounds like this.

The sky-blue color gives the mineral copper, the content of which exceeds 55%. In natural conditions azurite forms small columnar crystals. This stone is characterized by a fracture in the form of a shell. The stone is considered to be quite fragile - on the Mohs scale its hardness is 3.5-4 units.

Mineral deposits

Azurite - a stone whose properties have been used in various areas around the world, is mined in many countries. But its largest deposits are located in the following countries:

• Mexico;
• Chile;
• USA;
• Australia (Queensland);
• Kazakhstan;
• France;
• Germany.

There are small deposits in Africa (Zaire, Zambia, Namibia), Morocco (Tuissit, Mibladen), and also in the Southern Urals.

Healing properties

Today, many people know azurite (stone). The magical properties of the mineral are used by psychics in their sessions, jewelers dream to buy products with this stone . However, not everyone knows that in addition to exquisite beauty, this azure stone is famous for its medicinal properties. According to specialists, litotherapists, he can help with such diseases as:

• melancholy;
• hysteria;
• Hallucinations;
• epilepsy;
• Disorders of the nervous system.

In addition, azurite promotes treatment:

• Eye diseases;
• Hypertension;
• Some skin diseases;
• Asthma.

Azurite has a strong energy, so it can not be worn for more than one month in a row. Excessive enthusiasm for this mineral often leads to an internal imbalance. Lithotherapists recommend wearing it for no more than three days. Then you need to take a break for two weeks.

Azurite (stone): properties to whom it fits

Azurite became famous for its magic properties in ancient times. The priests of Ancient Egypt used it to communicate with the gods, and in Ireland the Druids defined the life path of young people with his help. They conducted a certain ritual with the young men with azurite, and during this young man clearly imagined his destiny.

In the East, azurite and today is considered the "third eye", which helps to see everything hidden from the eyes of a person. In the modern world, mages and psychics with the help of azurite relieve emotional arousal, help to cope with negative emotions. They argue that the mineral will certainly help:

• In making the right decision;
• In the peaceful resolution of the conflict;
• Expose deception;
• Identify detractors;
• Keep optimism in a difficult situation;
• To find peace and spiritual purity.

Zodiac signs

Often, in modern psychics and healers, people are interested in whether azurite (stone) has magical properties. The sign of the zodiac Libra can fully experience the beneficial effects of stone. Azurite is the stone of Jupiter, which in astrology symbolizes self-sufficiency, self-affirmation, superiority. This mineral is just perfect for Libra (along with malachite). He is endowed with a curative effect in diseases that are most often encountered in this sign.

People born under the sign of Libra, with the help of Azurite, will attract luck if they have talismans or amulets from this stone or just bring it to their home. Mineral positively affects people born under the sign of Sagittarius, Taurus, Aquarius and Virgo.

Most likely, many are interested in what negative has azurite (stone) properties. The sign of the zodiac Gemini, more precisely the people born under it, first of all will feel the negative influence of this stone. It is desirable that he was not in the houses of Gemini. Representatives of other signs can "communicate" with this beautiful stone, but contact should be short. Otherwise, the mineral will not help and will lose its strength.

How to distinguish natural azurite?

In jewelry, azurite is used not too often because of its fragility, more often the mineral is adorned by private collections of connoisseurs of stones. If you want to be sure that you are getting real azurite, remember some of its features:

1. Under the influence of moisture, azurite turns into malachite, acquiring a green tint.
2. This mineral is extremely rarely pure blue, almost always it has inclusions of malachite.
3. If you drop a small piece of mineral into hydrochloric acid - it will boil in it.
4. In the structure, the stone has rings, strips and other ordered elements.

How to care for a stone?

Care for azurite is not easy. It must be protected from dampness, in order to avoid the appearance of a greenish shade. Handle it with care, because the mineral is brittle and quite easily splits even when falling. Clean the azurite with a soft, dry cloth. To preserve a long blue color, the stone should be stored in a cool place, since it does not like sudden temperature changes. Do not allow the mineral to hit any chemicals and protect from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Application of azurite

Despite the fragility of this mineral, it is used quite widely:

Painting

From ancient times, using azurite, a tempera blue paint was made, which the artists used in icon painting.

Jewelcrafting

In connection with the increased fragility of azurite in the jewelry industry, it was used infrequently. But recently jewelry with azurite, framed in a grid of silver, has become popular. As a rule, these are small untreated crystals.

Decorative art

Mineral is used as an inexpensive ornamental stone.

Pyrotechnics

Azurite is a part of pyrotechnic products for coloring in green color of fireworks.

Industry

Azurite is used to produce copper and copper sulfate.

Interesting facts about azurite

• Some specimens amaze with their size. In 1980, a mineral was found in Namibia weighing twenty-six kilograms.
• In 1997, an even larger sample was found in Arizona. Its weight was 4.5 tons. An unusual find was called "Singing Stone".
• The world-famous icon painter Andrei Rublev used azurite in his "Trinity".
• The most valuable and large specimens are most often mined in Zaire. On the territory of our country the largest minerals (up to 6 cm in diameter) are mined at the Gumeshka mine in the Urals.