mineral

Malachite

Cu2CO3(OH)2 (Copper carbonate hydroxide)

Hardness: 3.5-4.0 Mohs. Color: Bright green, dark green, blackish-green, with distinctive concentric bandings or stripes. Luster: Adamantine to vitreous, silky, or dull when unpolished. Crystal Structure: Monoclinic. Cleavage: Perfect in one direction. Specific Gravity: 3.6-4.0.

Hardness: 3
Luster: Adamantine to vitreous, silky, or dull when unpolished

Identified July 27, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidation zones of copper ore deposits. It precipitates from weathering hydrothermal fluids containing dissolved copper as they react with carbonate minerals or carbonated waters.

Uses & applications

Used extensively in jewelry (beads, cabochons), ornamental carvings, pigments (historically known as mountain green), and traditionally as a minor ore of copper.

Geological facts

Malachite was used as a green pigment in paintings from antiquity through the Renaissance. Its striking banded patterns are caused by subtle variations in copper concentration and growth rate during formation.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its vivid green color, distinct concentric light and dark green banding, heavy weight (high specific gravity for a non-metallic mineral), and soft nature (scratched easily by steel). Commonly found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russia (Ural Mountains), Arizona (USA), Australia, and Namibia.