Chrysocolla Heart (Blue)

History of Chrysocolla

Chrysocolla has a long and celebrated historical tradition, despite the fact that for most of its history it was seen as a multi-colored Turquoise or semi-precious gem rock rather than a mineral in its own right. Chrysocolla is mentioned in the majority of ancient lapidaries, texts which describe gemstones and their powers. Civilizations worldwide have frequently celebrated Chrysocolla as a stone for harmony, peace, strength, and communication.

“Eilat Stone”

The most famous historical Chrysocolla deposit was located in the Levant. In 1000 BCE, King Solomon of Israel was said to have owned fabulous Copper mines in southern Israel and Africa, which also produced a beautiful blue-green stone, called the Stone of King Solomon or Eilat Stone, whose name is derived from the city of Eilat, the largest city in southern Israel. This stone was a combination of Chrysocolla, Malachite, and Turquoise.

Excavations at “King Solomon’s Mine”

In modern Israel, Eilat Stone is the national gemstone and is sold widely to tourists. However, the fabled mines played out long ago, and so the vast majority of the stones being sold to tourists are actually imported from Morocco and the United States!  Archaeologists in Israel are currently excavating a large ancient Copper mine, which many believe to have been the fabled King Solomon’s mines.

The name Chrysocolla was first used in 315 BCE by Theophrastus, the Greek philosopher, scientist and successor of Aristotle. His treatise, On Stones, was one of the primary sources used by virtually every lapidary that came afterwords. Unlike most lapidaries, On Stones was more of a geology and mineralogy text, rather than a metaphysical one. While he included a few myths and legends, most of the book divides stones and minerals according to their physical properties. Chrysocolla’s name comes from the Greek words chrysos meaning “gold” and kola meaning “glue.” That name references the fact that Chrysocolla was used in ancient times as an ingredient for solder, used to weld gold pieces together. Chrysocolla was later used during the Renaissance to make a blue pigment for paint.

Chrysocolla’s metaphysical properties date back to ancient Egypt, where it was known as the “wise stone” and carried by diplomats whose job was to negotiate, find compromises, and ensure favorable resolutions. Pharaoh-Queen Cleopatra (69-30 BCE) likewise wore Chrysocolla jewelry whenever she met with foreign ambassadors and rulers. However, not everyone was influenced by the wise energy of Chrysocolla. The self-absorbed and opulent Emperor Nero of Rome (37-68) ordered green Chrysocolla dust to be spread across the floor of the Colosseum whenever he raced as a charioteer. Green was Nero’s favorite color and the symbol for the faction that was most loyal to him.

Apache Chrysocolla

Chrysocolla is widely found in the American Southwest and Mexico. Indigenous peoples have believed for centuries that Chrysocolla brings strength to the body and soothes the emotions. Chrysocolla is rarely found in its pure form, and instead usually is part of fantastic combination stones. For example, Apache Chrysocolla is actually a beautiful combination of Chrysocolla, Lapis, Malachite, Quartz, and Red Jasper.

Photos: Eilat, Solomon’s Mine, Apache Chrysocolla