Chrysocolla, Tumbled Stone

If I say "chrysocolla," do you immediately think of gold? And yet, its name comes from the Greek chrysos (χρυσός), meaning "gold," and kolla (κόλλα), meaning "glue." But what is the connection between a blue-green stone and the work of goldsmiths?

We must go back to Antiquity. At that time, metallurgists used mixtures containing copper to solder gold. Chrysocolla, being a copper-rich ore, was sometimes crushed and processed to extract this metal. This copper was then used as an alloy or flux to bond different gold pieces together in the making of jewelry and precious objects.

Over time, the term "chrysocolla" stopped referring to these artisanal mixtures and came to designate a distinct mineral, a copper hydroxide silicate with beautiful blue-green shades.

The Egyptians knew it by another name: the "stone of wisdom." They wore it during negotiations and important decisions, believing it would bring them calm and discernment.

Later, in the Middle Ages, chrysocolla was sought after for its supposed medicinal properties. It was thought to have soothing effects on the stomach, and some physicians even recommended it for ulcers and digestive burns.