The facts
What campbellite actually is
Campbellite is classified as brecciated copper secondary minerals in silica, with the composition Mixture of malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, cuprite and silica. It crystallises in the aggregate system.
Colour comes from cu²⁺ in several species gives green, blue and turquoise; cuprite adds red, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Specific gravity around 2.8–3.6. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where campbellite comes from
Campbellite is produced at Campbell Mine, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, USA.
That is the whole list. A single source makes supply fragile and makes any claim of a second origin worth questioning.
How campbellite is treated
Soft and porous, so essentially all cut material is resin-stabilised — that should be disclosed and rarely is. The Campbell shaft closed in 1975, so supply is old stock and the name is sometimes applied to unrelated copper breccias.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What campbellite is confused with
In the trade campbellite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Eilat stone, Azurmalachite, Chrysocolla or Sonoran sunrise.
Because the material is opaque, refractive index is no help. Specific gravity around 2.8–3.6, hardness of 3.5–6, streak and magnification do the work instead.
What campbellite is used for
Demand for campbellite comes from jewellery, mineral collecting and decorative objects, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the specimen or by the piece.
Durability and care
Campbellite is 3.5–6 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What campbellite costs
As a guide, campbellite trades around Cabochons 40–300 USD.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is campbellite treated, and how?
Soft and porous, so essentially all cut material is resin-stabilised — that should be disclosed and rarely is. The Campbell shaft closed in 1975, so supply is old stock and the name is sometimes applied to unrelated copper breccias.
Where does campbellite come from?
Campbell Mine, Bisbee, Cochise County, Arizona, USA. That is the only commercial source.
Is campbellite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3.5–6 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does campbellite cost?
Indicatively Cabochons 40–300 USD. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is campbellite confused with?
Most often Eilat stone, Azurmalachite, Chrysocolla and Sonoran sunrise. Since the material is opaque, separation relies on specific gravity near 2.8–3.6, hardness and magnification.
What is campbellite used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for campbellite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about campbellite