What sort of mineral do you think this is?

Where can it be found?

What is it used for?

This is azurite, a bluish mineral which forms when copper ore is it is exposed to normal weather conditions. The greenish stripe, which indicates the presence of malachite, is a common feature of azurite deposits, caused by further reactions to weathering. Azurite can be found in many places around the globe, including Arizona, France, and Namibia.

The most common use for azurite historically has been as a pigment for painters, but it has also been used as beads and in jewelry.

For more information, visit:

• This artifact in the Karshner Digital Collections
• Artifact Worksheets you can use in your classroom or for homeschool
• Colour & Technique in Renaissance Painting
• Azurite Pigment