mineral

Malachite

Copper(II) 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

Identified June 29, 2026More mineral →

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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

A secondary mineral that forms in the oxidized zones of copper deposits. It results from the chemical weathering of primary copper minerals like chalcopyrite. It often forms botryoidal (grape-like) masses or fibrous aggregates.

Uses & applications

Major historical ore of copper; widely used in jewelry (cabochons), ornamental sculpture, pigments for paint, and as a popular collector's mineral.

Geological facts

Malachite was used as a mineral pigment in green paints from antiquity until about 1800. It is often found associated with blue Azurite. Large deposits in Russia's Ural Mountains were once mined to create massive columns and tabletops for the Hermitage Museum.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its distinctive green color and botryoidal (bumpy) habit. It reacts and fizzes when exposed to dilute hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Russia, and Arizona, USA.

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