TERRIUM — A mineralogy cabinet

Azurita

Azurita is a mineral with formula Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from Touissit-Bou Bekker, Oujda-Angad, Jerada, Oriental, Marruecos and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.

Azurita from Touissit-Bou Bekker, Oujda-Angad, Jerada, Oriental, Marruecos — Terrium

Description

Elongate piece with lustrous azurite and electric-blue chrysocolla. Dense barite matrix. Cerussite rosettes visible under a loupe.

History of this specimen

One of my favourite pieces. The provenance was wrongly identified at first: first as from China, given the seller’s origin, then as from Brazil because the seller said so, and finally—correctly—from Morocco.

About Azurita

Azurite is a secondary copper mineral, noted for its deep blue colour and crystal habit. It forms in the oxidised zones of copper deposits and is commonly found with malachite, calcite, barite or cerussite.

About the locality

Pb–Zn polymetallic district in which the oxidation zone yields very characteristic associations: azurite and chrysocolla as secondary copper phases, cerussite as a secondary lead phase, and barite commonly serving as matrix or associate. The coexistence of Cu–Pb–Ba in a single piece is consistent with the deposit’s signature, as it occurs only in very specific systems such as Touissit and Mibladen.

Technical data

Catalogue No.
0009
Composition
Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂
Name
Azurita
Group
Carbonatos
Category
Meritum Persé
Matrix
Matriz ferruginosa
Associations
Cerusita, barita, crisocola
Mine
Touissit-Bou Bekker
District / Municipality
Oujda-Angad
Province
Jerada
Region
Oriental
Country
Marruecos
Size (cm)
9.5 x 5.5 x 4
Weight
302 g
Acquired
2025
Etymology
The name derives from the Latin azurum (deep blue), in direct reference to its characteristic colour.
Quality
Buena
Value trend
Estable

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