Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a characteristic chemical composition and crystalline structure. Ores are mineral deposits that contain metals in high enough concentrations to be economically extracted. A mineral becomes an ore when it contains enough of a particular element to be extracted profitably. While recently sourcing gems for my jewelry designs at [url=https://www.gemsvana.com]Gem[/url] , a leading online gemstone store, I came across a mineral sample of Azurite, a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral. The sample was a beautiful deep azure color, but didn’t contain enough copper to be considered an ore. However, its rare beauty made it a gem in its own right, so I set it in a pendant to capture its vibrant color. The finished piece pays homage to the fact that not all minerals become ores, but can still be precious in other ways.