Gemstone necklace with a k2 - azurite in granite
Incl. 2mm leather strap in antique brown for knotting.
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"A stone is the condensed history of the universe"
~Art of Nature Berlin~Azurit – origin and history
On an astrological level, it is associated with the zodiac signs Capricorn and Virgo. The azurite should definitely be discharged overnight in a dry bowl of hematite tumbled stones once a month. Charging is not necessary as deep blue azurites are true bundles of energy. Only lighter azurites should be charged in the sun or in rock crystals.
Azurite has been known for more than 4,500 years. Even back then, the stone was sought after in a wide variety of cultures around the world. Azurite used to be called citramarine because it came “from this side of the sea”.
The main suppliers of azurite in ancient times were countries such as Andalusia, Armenia and Cyprus. The mineral was used in powder form by the Egyptians, Persians and Romans as eye makeup. During the Ming Dynasty, the ancient Chinese used azurite to color their beautiful and legendary vases.
However, azurite gained particular importance in painting in the Middle Ages in Europe and also in the Renaissance - in monasteries the valuable blue pigment was used for small picture motifs and calligraphic manuscripts. Even the famous painter Michelangelo used azurite for the bright blue robe of Mary Magdalene in his Roman Entombment.
The healing stone was given the mineral name azurite, which is still valid today, in 1824 by the French mineralogist François Beudant. Above all, this was a monument to the beautiful azure color of the mineral.
Azurite is also known under the names armenite, mountain blue, blue malachite, chessylite, copper lapis, copper blue, copper glaze and glaze malachite.
Azurite - occurrence and formation
The azurite forms secondarily through deposits and weathering. Where azurite occurs, the rock contains copper. Azurite is formed in the oxidation zone of so-called sulfidic copper deposits through the weathering of chalcopyrite and other copper sulfides or from general copper ores.
Azurite is very often a component of copper pitch ore and, depending on where it is found, also occurs in paragenesis with other minerals (e.g. anglesite, brochantite, calcite, chrysocolla, dolomite, smithsonite).
As an anhydrous carbonate, azurite is more common than other gemstones. Oxygen-rich water in the form of seepage or groundwater is necessary for its formation, because azurite is only formed when a carbon dioxide molecule is released at the same time. Azurite is similar in composition to malachite, which is why the pseudomorphosis from malachite to azurite can often be observed.
Azurite is very common and can be found in many places. According to 2014, around 5,000 locations are known. In ancient times, Andalusia, Armenia and Cyprus were the main mining areas for azurite. Until the middle of the 17th century, Hungary was the most important mining region in Europe. Chessy near Lyon (France), Mechernich (German Vulkaneifel) and the mines near Alghero (Sardinia) were considered suppliers of azurite until the end of the 19th century.
In addition to its historical site of Mechernich, where the azurite was precipitated by sedimentation in the Buntsandsteine, the mineral can also be found in Germany in the Black Forest, the Thuringian-Franconian low mountain range, the Spessart, the Harz Mountains, the Erzgebirge and the Odenwald.
Tsumeb in Namibia is also a well-known discovery site due to its extraordinary azurite finds with crystals up to 20 centimeters long. Crystals up to 7 centimeters long have been found in Morocco (Touissite). Crystal rosettes with diameters of up to 13 centimeters can also be found in the Chinese province of Guangdong.
Further deposits of azurite can also be found in Austria, Switzerland, Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Bulgaria, the Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire), Iran, Greece, in Japan, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Canada, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Norway, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Serbia, Zimbabwe, in South Africa, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary as well as in the USA and the United Kingdom (UK).
Mining azurite does not make sense or be of economic importance at every site. The quality and size of the deposit as well as the location of the sites and the environmental conditions prevailing there are crucial for mining.
Properties and effects of azurite
Azurite is assigned to the monoclinic crystal system, is transparent to opaque and completely fissile. The healing stone comes in several colors of blue tones that can vary from light to deep dark blue (azure blue) to night blue to almost black. The shine of azurite is reminiscent of the appearance of glass.
Azurite – effect and use as a healing stone
Azurite is often used in stone science as a healing stone. It has positive effects on both the body and the soul. The application possibilities are quite diverse.
Effect of azurite as a healing stone on the body
Azurite is considered a healing stone for bones and joints. It accompanies, promotes and also regulates healthy growth - especially in children and young people. Azurite also stimulates nerve and brain activity. Since it has a detoxifying effect, the work of the liver is also stimulated and the activity of the thyroid gland is stimulated.
Azurite has a positive effect on inflammation (e.g. wounds, inflammation of the joints). It strengthens the ability to react and is also considered an important healing stone for complaints such as arthritis, the spleen or a curvature of the spine. It is also said to accelerate healing after surgery and strengthen circulation.
Effect of azurite as a healing stone on the soul
Azurite promotes the ability to take criticism better and increases self-confidence and empathy. It increases creativity, improves concentration and perception as well as consciousness and mind. In meditation - placed on the third eye - it combats exam anxiety and promotes mental receptiveness.
Azurite brings spiritual powers to light, increases the drive and decision-making power and helps to finish something planned. It helps against hopelessness, instability and low self-confidence. With the azurite, its wearer can learn to set priorities for upcoming tasks.
Azurite is also considered a stone of self-knowledge; it helps to loosen old emotional bonds and concentrate on the future. During puberty, azurite has a stabilizing effect on young people and ensures greater maturity in the new phase of life. At different stages of life, it can protect young people from brutality and crime and eliminates the constant feeling of not being understood by others - especially adults.
