Aurichalcite
Ojuela Mine
Mapami, Mexico
This specimen measures 14 x 10.5 cm
Aurichalcite (Zn,Cu)5(CO3)2(OH)6
Carbonate; a basic carbonate of zinc and copper
Color and Luster: Pale green to greenish blue and sky blue; silky to pearly
Hardness:1-2
Cleavage: Perfect in one direction
Fracture: Uneven
Crystals: Orthorhombic, usually in delicate acicular or lathlike crystals that form tufted, feathery, or plumose incrustations; rarely columnar, laminated, or granular
Photo by Mary Sutherland
Descriptions taken from
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals