A deep blue or blue-green mineral form of basic copper carbonate, often found in oxidized copper ore deposits and historically used as a pigment and gemstone.
From French azur (from Persian lazhuward, 'lapis lazuli,' the blue stone), + -ite (a mineral suffix). The mineral was valued in medieval times and the name evolved through Middle Eastern and European languages.
Azurite has been treasured for over 3,000 years—it was the blue pigment in medieval manuscripts and Renaissance paintings, but it has a tragic flaw: exposed to air, it slowly turns into malachite, fading the artwork.
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