mineral
Malachite
Copper carbonate hydroxide Cu2CO3(OH)2
Hardness: 3.5-4 (Mohs), Color: Bright green, dark green, blackish green, Luster: Adamantine to vitreous or silky, Crystal Structure: Monoclinic, Cleavage: Perfect in one direction, Specific Gravity: 3.6-4.0
- Hardness
- 3
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3.5-4 (Mohs), Color: Bright green, dark green, blackish green, Luster: Adamantine to vitreous or silky, Crystal Structure: Monoclinic, Cleavage: Perfect in one direction, Specific Gravity: 3.6-4.0
Formation & geological history
A secondary mineral that forms in the oxidized zones of copper deposits, often resulting from the weathering of copper ores. It frequently occurs alongside azurite.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry as beads and cabochons, for ornamental carvings, as a copper ore, and historically as a pigment in painting.
Geological facts
Malachite was used as a green mineral pigment in paintings until about 1800. It is often found with concentric banding or in botryoidal (grape-like) clusters.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its distinct green color, effervescence when exposed to cold dilute hydrochloric acid, and associated copper-bearing minerals. Major locations include DRC, Russia, and Arizona, USA.
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Schist
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Metamorphic
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
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Mineral
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