mineral
Malachite in Matrix
Copper Carbonate Hydroxide (Cu2CO3(OH)2)
Hardness: 3.5-4.0; Color: Bright green to dark green; Luster: Adamantine to vitreous or silky; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect; Specific Gravity: 3.6-4.0
- Hardness
- 3
- Color
- Bright green to dark green
- Luster
- Adamantine to vitreous or silky
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3.5-4.0; Color: Bright green to dark green; Luster: Adamantine to vitreous or silky; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect; Specific Gravity: 3.6-4.0
Formation & geological history
Formed in the oxidized zones of copper ore deposits where carbonated water interacts with copper-bearing minerals. Common in supergene enrichment zones of hydrothermal veins.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as an ore of copper, as a decorative gemstone for jewelry, and as a popular mineral specimen for collectors. Historically used as a green pigment.
Geological facts
Malachite often occurs with Azurite. It has been used as a gemstone and sculptural material for thousands of years, most notably in the Malachite Room at the Hermitage Museum in Russia.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive vivid green color and habit. To test in the field, it will effervesce in dilute hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in copper-rich regions of Africa, Russia, and the Southwestern United States.
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