mineral

Malachite

Cu2CO3(OH)2 (Copper Hydroxide Carbonate)

Hardness: 3.5-4.0; Color: Bright green to dark green with distinctive banding; Luster: Adamantine to vitreous or silky; Crystal system: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect; Specific Gravity: 3.6-4.0

Hardness: 3
Color: Bright green to dark green with distinctive banding
Luster: Adamantine to vitreous or silky

Identified June 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3.5-4.0; Color: Bright green to dark green with distinctive banding; Luster: Adamantine to vitreous or silky; Crystal system: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect; Specific Gravity: 3.6-4.0

Formation & geological history

A secondary mineral that forms in the oxidized zones of copper ore deposits. It occurs when carbonated water interacts with copper minerals. Often found in worldwide deposits associated with limestone.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as an ornamental stone, for jewelry, and as a minor ore of copper. Historically used as a green pigment in paints until instructions for synthetic production became available.

Geological facts

Malachite was used as a mineral pigment in green paints from antiquity until about 1800. It is often found associated with Azurite, a blue copper carbonate mineral. The name comes from the Greek word 'moloche', meaning mallow, in reference to its leaf-green color.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its vibrant green color and specific concentric banding or botryoidal (grape-like) growth patterns. Commonly found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Namibia, and the Southwestern United States.