{"product_id":"calcite-with-copper-minerals-b-natural-mexico","title":"Calcite with copper minerals (B) — natural, Mexico","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe blue on this piece and the green on a malachite are the same element doing different things.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCopper is unusual among metals in that its compounds are almost always coloured, and the shade depends entirely on what it has bonded with and how much water is caught up in the structure. Bond it to carbonate one way and you get the deep blue of azurite. Bond it to carbonate another way and you get malachite green. Add silica and water and it shifts to the softer blue-green of chrysocolla. Bring zinc into it and you get the pale, chalky blue of aurichalcite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eOne element, one mine, and a range of colours that has nothing to do with different metals being present. Just different arrangements of the same one.\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 11.15 x 5 x 13.8 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.355 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":58513259692376,"sku":null,"price":72.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/4880\/5720\/files\/ccm-b-1.jpg?v=1789819235","url":"https:\/\/thecrystalshowroom.com\/products\/calcite-with-copper-minerals-b-natural-mexico","provider":"The Crystal Showroom","version":"1.0","type":"link"}