mineral
Malachite
Cu2CO3(OH)2 (Copper Hydroxide Carbonate)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 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 More mineral →
Explore Malachite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
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.
