Azurite [fine]

Blue Verditer, Bice, Mountain Blue Our azurite is natural carbonate of copper from deposits in Dzhezkgazgan, Kazakhstan. It varies from bright to dark blue with a greenish undertone to two grades: fine and medium.

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Azurite [medium]

Blue Verditer, Bice, Mountain Blue Our azurite is natural carbonate of copper from ore deposits in Dzhezkgazgan, Kazakhstan. It has a dark blue masstone and a greenish undertone with a medium to coarse grind of 20 to 100 µ particles.

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Pigment Information: Azurite [fine]

Common Names: German: Azurit; French: azurite; Spanish: azurita; Italian: azzurrite
Obsolete Names: English: blue verditer, bice, Mountain blue; German: Bergblau; French: bleu de montagne, bleu d'Allemagne; Italian: azzurro della magna; Latin: lapis armenius, azurium citramarinum
Color: Green-Blue
Colour Index: Pigment Blue 30
ASTM Lightfastness: Not tested
Density: 3.8
Hardness: 3.5-4.0
Chemical Formula: Cu₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂

Azurite is a natural carbonate of copper and is found in many parts of the world in the upper oxidized portions of copper ore deposits along with malachite. Our azurite is from copper ore deposits in Dzhezkgazgan, Kazakhstan. It is usually described as a bright blue or sometimes as a greenish blue. Azurite varies in masstone color from deep blue to pale blue with a greenish undertone depending on such factors as the purity of the mineral and the grade (particle size) of the pigment. Ours varies from a bright to dark blue with a greenish undertone in several grades.
History: According to some authorities, azurite has been found in paint pigment as early as the Fourth Dynasty in Egypt.
Permanence and Compatibility: Despite azurite being a carbonate, and hence sensitive to acids, it has a good record in respect to permanence where employed in oil- and tempera media. It is darkened when exposed to sulfur fumes, especially where it is used in mural paintings. It is unaffected by light. Azurite pigment is said to turn green due to alteration to malachite. Although copper pigments tend to exert both a siccative and antioxidant effect in oil-medium, some examples have shown that azurite tends to discolor when applied in thick, coarse-textured layers.
Oil Absorption and Grinding: No data has been published on the oil absorption properties of azurite. Coarsely ground azurite produces a dark blue pigment; fine grinding produces a lighter tone. We offer a fine and medium ground pigment with an intense blue hue. Azurite is most successfully employed in aqueous medium, such as tempera, because of its refraction index.
Toxicity: Azurite is moderately toxic and care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment as well as the pigment dispersed in medium.

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