More than you ever wanted to know about Chrysocolla

This edition to my ongoing series of blog post about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features chrysocolla - a beautiful copper mineral.

This vibrant translucent to opaque gem is a hydrated copper silicate mixed with a quartz matrix and copper, iron, and manganese oxides. Its Color depends on the purity of the material.

Beautiful aqua blue chrysocolla, a member of the chalcedony quartz family, was first found in an Arizona copper mine in 1905. The name chrysocolla is derived from the Greek chrysos (golden) and kolla (glue); the Greeks originally gave the name chrysocolla to a material used for soldering metals.

More recently chrysocolla, when included in quartz, has also become known as gem silica.

Lore

Gentle and soothing, chrysocolla was once used as an aid in preventing digestive problems and ulcers. Chrysocolla was said to improve arthritic conditions (today people still wear copper bracelets for the same purpose).

"Chrysocolla purifies the home and the environment, and can work to eliminate negativity from within a person. It imparts an energy conductive to stabilizing the home and re-building relationships." 1

Chrysocolla has been used by singers and musicians as a musical charm.

"This opaque, charcoal-colored stone banishes fear and re-establishes logical perspectives." 2

"Because it was used as a musical amulet, to dream of chrysocolla was considered very fortunate for musicians, singers, and florists. For centuries, musicians have used this stone as an amulet for healing the throat and lungs." 3


1) A. Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" pg. 120

2) Marian Singer, Trish MacGregor "The Only Wiccan Spell Book You'll Ever Need"

3) D.J. Conway "Crystal Enchantments: A Complete Guide to Stones and Their Magical Properties" pg. 68