mineral
Malachite
Copper Carbonate Hydroxide, Cu2CO3(OH)2
Hardness: 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale, Color: Bright green to dark green with characteristic banding, Luster: Vitreous to dull or silky, Crystal Structure: Monoclinic, Cleavage: Perfect in one direction, Specific Gravity: 3.6 to 4.0
- Hardness
- 3
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale, Color: Bright green to dark green with characteristic banding, Luster: Vitreous to dull or silky, Crystal Structure: Monoclinic, Cleavage: Perfect in one direction, Specific Gravity: 3.6 to 4.0
Formation & geological history
Formed in the weathering zones of copper ore deposits, typically as supergene alteration products in limestone environments where circulating groundwaters react with copper minerals.
Uses & applications
Widely used as an ornamental stone, for making beads, cabochons, carvings, and inlays, as well as historically as a green pigment for painting.
Geological facts
Malachite has been mined for over 3,000 years, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula and in the Ural Mountains of Russia, where large decorative slabs were used in interior architecture.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive green color and concentric banding patterns. It reacts and effervesces with hydrochloric acid due to its carbonate content.
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