Pure blue chrysocolla is extremely soft but interesting to gem collectors. On the other hand, chrysocolla that forms as gel mixed with silica and hardens into a blue to blue-green chrysocolla chalcedony is quite hard and a popular jewelry stone.
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Fine blue chrysocolla with very little silica crumbles too easily for cutting or jewelry use.
Blue to blue-green Eilat stones contain a mix of chrysocolla, malachite, turquoise, and other minerals. Named after the city of Eilat, Israel, where it was mined, this gem is the national stone of Israel and is also called the "King Solomon Stone." Eilat stones have a specific gravity range of 2.8 to 3.2.
Chrysocollas with druzy quartz crystals on their surfaces make popular jewelry stones.
Other varieties include:
Gemologists have found simulants, such as chalcedonies dyed to resemble chrysocollas.
Available in large masses of material, weighing several pounds.
Please note the wide range of hardness in this material. A coin could scratch stones with a hardness of 2, while specimens mixed with quartz could have a hardness of 7. If you're not certain of the composition of your stone, clean and store it with care. Avoid mechanical cleaning such as steam or ultrasonic processes. Instead, use a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water for cleaning. Store your chrysocollas separately from other stones (as you would treat opals and pearls) to avoid contact scratches. A professional gem lab can ascertain your gem's physical properties and recommend safe uses. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.
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Fine blue chrysocolla with very little silica crumbles too easily for cutting or jewelry use.
Blue to blue-green Eilat stones contain a mix of chrysocolla, malachite, turquoise, and other minerals. Named after the city of Eilat, Israel, where it was mined, this gem is the national stone of Israel and is also called the "King Solomon Stone." Eilat stones have a specific gravity range of 2.8 to 3.2.
Chrysocollas with druzy crystals on their surfaces make popular jewelry stones.
Other varieties include:
Gemologists have found simulants, such as chalcedonies dyed to resemble chrysocollas.
Available in large masses of material, weighing several pounds.
Please note the wide range of hardness in this material. A coin could scratch stones with a hardness of 2, while specimens mixed with quartz could have a hardness of 7. If you're not certain of the composition of your stone, clean and store it with care. Avoid mechanical cleaning such as steam or ultrasonic processes. Instead, use a soft brush, mild detergent, and warm water for cleaning. Store your chrysocollas separately from other stones (as you would treat opals and pearls) to avoid contact scratches. A professional gem lab can ascertain your gem's physical properties and recommend safe uses. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.
Pure blue chrysocolla is extremely soft but interesting to gem collectors. On the other hand, chrysocolla that forms as gel mixed with silica and hardens into a blue to blue-green chrysocolla chalcedony is quite hard and a popular jewelry stone.
