mineral
Malachite
Copper carbonate hydroxide Cu2CO3(OH)2
Hardness: 3.5–4.0 Mohs; Color: Bright green, dark green, or blackish-green; Luster: Silky, velvety, or dull; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect in one direction.
- Hardness
- 3
- Color
- Bright green, dark green, or blackish-green
- Luster
- Silky, velvety, or dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3.5–4.0 Mohs; Color: Bright green, dark green, or blackish-green; Luster: Silky, velvety, or dull; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect in one direction.
Formation & geological history
Forms in the oxidizing zone of copper deposits, often as a secondary mineral resulting from the weathering of copper ores. Usually found in limestone and other carbonaceous rocks.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as an ornamental stone, in jewelry (beads, cabochons), for decorative carvings, and historically as a green pigment in paints.
Geological facts
Malachite is often found with blue azurite. It has been used as a copper ore and gemstone for millennia, famously used in Ancient Egypt for jewelry and eye makeup.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive vibrant green color and banded patterns when polished. It reacts with dilute hydrochloric acid. It is commonly found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, and the Southwestern USA.
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sedimentary
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Sedimentary Sandstone (mostly SiO2 with Fe2O3 tinting)
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral
Gypsum (variety Selenite or Alabaster)
Calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O)
Mineral
Epidote
Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
metamorphic