Malachite
Carbonate · Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂
Malachite is a green copper carbonate famous for its swirling light-and-dark green bands, used as both a gemstone and a copper ore.
What is malachite?
Malachite is a hydrated copper carbonate that forms in the weathered zones of copper deposits. It is prized for its vivid green colour and concentric banding, and typically occurs as botryoidal (grape-like) crusts and rounded masses rather than clear crystals. It has been used as a pigment, gemstone and ore for thousands of years.
Properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂
- Category
- Carbonate
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3.5–4
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Lustre
- Silky to dull
- Streak
- Pale green
- Colour
- Bright to dark green, banded
- Cleavage / fracture
- Perfect (rarely seen)
How to identify malachite
- →Bright green with distinctive light-and-dark concentric banding.
- →Botryoidal (bubbly, grape-like) or fibrous masses.
- →Fizzes in acid (it is a carbonate).
- →Pale green streak; soft, hardness 3.5–4.
Where malachite is found
Major sources are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia (the Urals, historically), Australia and the southwestern USA.
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