Zeiringite
Zeiringite is a blue-colored variety of the mineral aragonite , which appears as sinter formation near copper deposits. Microscopic inclusions of aurichalcite color the aragonite in various blue shades and in many cases cause a silky sheen (otherwise unusual for aragonite).
Occurrence and use
The mineral forms quite thick layers and stalactites in cavities, over which zinc and copper occur together.
Because of its beautiful color, it is often used as a gem stone and for making decorative objects. Today the blue aragonite has become rare. The original site in Oberzeiring (Styria) has since been exploited, and the sites discovered later in Laurion (Greece) and Japan have not been heard for a long time.
As quickly as the stone became fashionable, it also disappeared again quickly. The name Zeiringit is now almost completely unknown. Only a few sources still state that aragonite can also be blue.
Web links
- Mineral Atlas: Zeiringite (Wiki)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Federal Institute for Geosciences and Raw Materials: Zeiringite (aragonite + aurichalcite): a special kind of stalactite