Photo #149
A Lesser with some Chrysocolla with Chalcocite (Copper Ore).
Chrysocolla has a mohs hardness that varied between 2.5 and 7.0 (so basically everything from you can scratch it casually with a fingernail up to-you can scrape it all day with a steel nail and not make a mark). The varying hardness is due to different compositions of minerals including: Azurite, Cuprite, Limonite, and Malachite.
This particular batch of Chrysocolla from the mine in Morenci, AZ was very soft, shaped poorly, and due to the softness of the stone resisted a shiny polish.
Here is a photo of a piece of rough material:
You can see the powder flaking off in my hand just from holding it.
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