It's hard to forget the first time you see a chrysocolla stone. Its patterns are remarkably similar to satellite maps of our Earth, with its rivers, forests, deserts, and lakes. The combination of deep blue, vibrant green, and sea-hued turquoise, along with specks of brown, makes this gemstone truly one of a kind, with a very unique vibration.
If you're one of those people who simply cannot resist a blue or green stone, or if you're just looking for a multi-purpose crystal, then chrysocolla may be the healing gemstone for you. Even though its energy has a deep connection to both the heart and the throat chakras, this beautiful and wild mineral has a cleansing and balancing action on all your energy centers.
It's a birthstone for those born in the transition months between winter and spring (February to April) and is a zodiac sign stone for Sagittarius. Virgo, Gemini, and Taurus can also benefit from this crystal's soothing energy.
In this article, you'll find a comprehensive guide to chrysocolla and some simple tips on how to integrate it into your everyday life so you can feel more supported physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Origins of Chrysocolla
Chrysocolla's name derives from the Greek words "chryso" (gold) and "kolla" (glue). It got this curious name around 315 B.C., when Theophrastus, a philosopher and botanist, noticed its resemblance to borax, a material used to melt and create gold pieces.
People have used chrysocolla for hundreds of years, and experts believe that its earliest source was located in southern Israel where nowadays you can find the city of Eilat. In fact, legend says that the first chrysocolla specimens originated from King Solomon's mines. For that reason, this crystal was for a long time called "King Solomon's stone."
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, extensively studied this stone and praised its healing powers. During the Middle Ages, medical practitioners commonly used it as an elixir to clean wounds and relieve eye pain. In Incan, Aztec, and native North American societies, people used chrysocolla to create decorative, ceremonial, and spiritual items.
Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations frequently used it for carving to create objects, due to its soft and workable nature. During excavations, archeologists found chrysocolla amulets tied to the arms of mummified Egyptian children, as protection tokens for their journey to the afterlife.
Cleopatra was said to carry this beautiful blue-green gemstone during negotiations with her brother Ptolemy XIII and the Romans, for she believed its energy calmed fiery tempers and allowed for polite and diplomatic conversations. This Egyptian queen also gifted beaded necklaces made of chrysocolla to foreign visitors as a way of making them more flexible, open, and tolerant.
Though many different civilizations used this soothing crystal for various purposes, chrysocolla has always been associated with feminine energy. Ancient Greeks believed it symbolized Sophia, the goddess of wisdom, tranquility, and nourishment, and for that reason, this old-as-time stone has a special affinity with women healers, midwives, and grandmothers. Its energy encourages them to pass their accumulated knowledge and experience to younger generations.
Sources of Chrysocolla
Chrysocolla is a copper silicate, a curious and unique material that is not considered a mineral but rather a silica gel that has hardened over the years. It is frequently formed together with other stones like azurite, turquoise, malachite, quartz, cuprite, and other copper minerals, which makes it strong enough to be polished and carved like other gemstones.
Chrysocolla occurs in many varieties and different colors, the most popular including:
- Eilat Stone: A greenish-blue version, which was formed with turquoise and malachite, mined in southern Israel
- Stellarite (Chrysocolla Quartz): A light blue variation, which is formed through a combination of chrysocolla and quartz
- Parrot Wing: A mix of Chrysocolla and Jasper, which showcases a greenish-brown color
- Gem Silica (Chrysocolla Chalcedony): This variety is a rare and valuable gemstone that gets its mesmerizing color from its high copper composition. These specimens are mined almost exclusively in Arizona in the United States.
Most of the chrysocolla you can get in stores comes from different locations around the world, including Australia, Chile, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly known as Zaire), Israel, Mexico, Peru, Russia, and the United States in New Mexico and Arizona.
Healing Properties of Chrysocolla
Chrysocolla is a powerful healing crystal and an extraordinary chakra stone that helps to open and balance both the heart chakra and the throat chakra.
When selecting your gem, keep in mind that a predominantly blue chrysocolla will have a particular affinity with the throat, while a variety with a deeper green color will resonate more with the heart center. As always, when choosing crystals, use your intuition and go for the one that has immediately caught your attention.
Chrysocolla is a talisman for those with creative jobs, like musicians, designers, and inventors, as it sparks inspiration and helps to combine new ideas with practical applications.
Physical Benefits
If you're looking for a well-rounded stone to support your overall well-being, chrysocolla might be a good option for you. Ancient physicians used it to bring relief to those who suffered from bone degenerative conditions, cardiovascular issues (such as high blood pressure), and throat problems.
In energy healing sessions, practitioners used these gemstones to support the natural detoxification of the body, balancing organs like the liver, kidneys, and intestines, thus being very beneficial for digestion and elimination. Holistic therapists regarded this stone as an excellent stone to re-oxygenate the cells, which they believe can assist in regenerating the pancreas and balancing insulin levels.
Due to its strong connection with the feminine, metaphysical healers recommend Chrysocolla to alleviate the symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and soothe painful menstruations, as they believe its vibration helps to regulate the endocrine system.
Like all blue stones, it has a very calming effect on the nervous system. Therefore, it has been used for thousands of years as a holistic tool to tranquilize those who are easily affected by anxiety and stress. Due to its serene nature and connection to the divine feminine, it makes a fantastic present for first-time mothers, providing comfort and relaxation, and relieving the anxieties of pregnancy and maternity.
Emotional Healing
Along with opal and moonstone, the chrysocolla crystal is a great companion for those who wish to become more aware of themselves and whose primary goal is to find balance in life. This blue-green stone can help you accomplish that by bringing emotional wounds and dense feelings to the surface, so you can deal with them and find closure, while at the same time assisting you in learning essential insights.
As a true stone of the heart, it guides you towards overcoming heartache, fear of loving and being loved, and guilt over past actions. It increases your capacity not only to love others but, most importantly, to love yourself first. On the other hand, as a stone of communication it encourages you to express your emotions with clarity and honesty, and avoid misinterpretations.
Chrysocolla emphasizes the power your words and actions have on the people around you, especially within your relationships. It cools down tempers and dispels negative energies during rocky periods with your partner, creating an open channel of communication so you can find common ground and reach solutions together.
If you have any male figures in your life who have a hard time showing and accepting their vulnerability, consider giving them a chrysocolla gemstone. Its gentle and accepting frequency can help them embrace this part of themselves, showing that there is real strength in opening up and talking about their emotions.
Spiritual and Metaphysical Properties
Thanks to its influence on both the green and blue chakras, chrysocolla is often called the stone of forgiveness, stability, and acceptance. It possesses a very grounding energy, which can help to strengthen your connection with the planet and encourage a more conscious mindset regarding the environment.
Like lapis lazuli and apatite, chrysocolla can be very beneficial for those who speak or perform in public, giving them the confidence to show up to the world as their true selves. It has a stimulating effect on your mind, yet it relaxes your emotions, making it a perfect companion for business people and entrepreneurs. As a prosperity stone, its presence may stimulate your astuteness when conducting negotiations, making deals, and combining your analytical mind with your intuition.
If you know someone who could get out of their shell, give them a piece of chrysocolla, as this beautiful ocean-hued crystal is said to encourage natural spontaneity. It can also soothe people who simply can't stay in one place and possess wandering temperaments by keeping them grounded and calming their minds.
It's a thoughtful gift for first-time grandmothers or great grandmothers, as its energy helps them balance their new caring role.
Use Chrysocolla To Balance Your Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Energy
If you're just starting your crystal collection or your energy healing kit, then don't leave chrysocolla out. It's a truly unique gemstone, not only because of the way it occurs on Earth, but also thanks to its mesmerizing colors that resemble a beautiful painting of our incredible planet.
Its multi-purpose vibration can be used in many different ways, making it an indispensable gemstone to add to your crystal box so that you can enjoy its positive vibes and peaceful energies.
