{"product_id":"calcite-with-copper-minerals-a-natural-mexico","title":"Calcite with copper minerals (A) — natural, Mexico","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePale carbonate crystals with blue copper mineral growing across them, from a copper mine in Chihuahua.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCopper deposits are grey and dull at depth. Down there the copper sits locked in sulphides, mostly chalcopyrite, and it looks like nothing at all. The colour appears near the surface, where groundwater and oxygen have had a few million years to work on the ore and break it apart. Copper released from the sulphides recombines with whatever else is dissolved in the water, and the results are blue and green.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThat zone is called the oxidation zone, and it is where nearly every beautiful copper mineral on Earth comes from. Azurite, malachite, chrysocolla, turquoise. All of them are copper ore in the process of falling apart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eVery soft, and copper minerals are toxic if swallowed. Dust with a dry brush rather than washing, keep it away from children and pets, and wash your hands after handling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMineral:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eCalcite (calcium carbonate, CaCO₃) with blue copper minerals\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal system:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eTrigonal (calcite)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin: \u003c\/strong\u003eRío Tinto Mine, Labor de Terrazas, Chihuahua Municipality, Chihuahua, Mexico\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardness: \u003c\/strong\u003eCalcite is 3 on the Mohs scale and the blue coating is softer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTreatment: \u003c\/strong\u003eNone\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10.64 x 6.5 x 17.2 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.555 kg                                                                                                                                          \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eYou will receive the exact piece photographed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Crystal Showroom","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58513085792600,"sku":null,"price":110.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/4880\/5720\/files\/ccm-a-1.jpg?v=1789817213","url":"https:\/\/thecrystalshowroom.com\/products\/calcite-with-copper-minerals-a-natural-mexico","provider":"The Crystal Showroom","version":"1.0","type":"link"}