Azurite

Etymology and history The modern English name of the mineral reflects this association, since both azurite and azure are derived via Arabic from the Persian lazhward (لاژورد), an area known for its deposits of another deep blue stone, lapis lazuli ("stone of azure"). For thousands of years this stone has been used in jewelry and ornamental objects. During the middle Ages and Renaissance it was ground into pigment for use in paint and eye shadow. The mineral has been known since ancient times, and was mentioned in Pliny the Elder's Natural History under the Greek name kuanos (κυανός: "deep blue," root of English cyan) and the Latin name caeruleum Azurite description Azurite is a soft, deep blue copper mineral... more about azurite » | more about stones used in our jewelry »