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monocliniccommonCarbonates
Malachite
Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
This specimen features vibrant green malachite, often displaying botryoidal or banded structures, intergrown with deep blue azurite and reddish-brown iron oxides.
Malachite Physical Properties
Mohs Hardness
3.5Crystal System
monoclinicLuster
silkyStreak Color
light greenCleavage
perfect on {201}, good on {001} (rarely observed)Fracture
conchoidalSpecific Gravity
3.9Colors
green, dark green, banded greenTransparency
translucentType Locality
Katanga (Congo), Ural Mountains (Russia), Arizona (USA)Mineral Group
CarbonatesUses
jewelry, ornamental stone, pigment, minor copper oreAssociated Minerals
azurite, iron oxides, cuprite, native copper, chrysocollaRarity
commonGeological Context
Malachite is a secondary copper mineral that forms in the oxidized zone of copper deposits, typically in arid or semi-arid climates, precipitating from copper-rich solutions.
