Front:
Minerals USA
29
Azurite
DC
GHINGTON
SEP
17
1992
20066
KOSL OW
WAS
Back:
AZURITE
First Day of Issue: September 17, 1992
First Issue Location: Washington, D.C.
Azure in color, this beautiful mineral was used exten-
sively as a blue pigment by European painters during the
crystals of azurite have a remarkable luminous sheen,
and are often used in fine pieces of jewelry. A common
ore of copper, azurite is usually found near the surface of
copper deposits, and almost always occurs with the more
plentiful green-colored mineral malachite. Because of
this, azurite is sometimes called blue malachite. Both
azurite and malachite are frequently found in stalactite
form, with one mineral wrapped around the other. When
cut and polished in cross sections, these stalactites make
beautiful ornamentations. Most of the ornamental speci-
mens of this sort occur in Morenci, Arizona. Other areas
where azurite is found include Bisbee, Arizona, Siberia
and Chessy, France. The latter location has been famous
for its azurite deposits for many years, and azurite is most
often called chessylite in Europe and England.
No. 92-117
First Day of Issue Postcard Collection"
©1992 Fleetwood® Cheyenne, WY 82008-0001
Original painting for the First Day of Issue Postcard by Howard Koslow
Heetwood
