Mineralpedia Details for Malachite
Malachite
Named for the Greek word malachi, meaning “mallow,” after the plant’s leaves in reference to malachite’s green color. Malachite is a common secondary copper mineral with thousands of localities and is found in oxidized copper deposits and in some cases is used locally as a copper ore. Malachite is commonly associated with azurite, as well as with cupite, cerussite, chrysocolla, calcite, and limonite.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/malachite.pdf
- Formula
- Cu2CO3(OH)2
- Crystal System
- Monoclinic
- Crystal Habit
- Botryoidal, Stalactitic, Massive - Fibrous
- Cleavage
- Perfect, Fair, None
- Luster
- Vitreous - Silky
- Color
- green, dark green, blackish green
- Streak
- light green
- Class
- Monoclinic - Prismatic
- Fracture
- Uneven
- Hardness
- 3.5-4
- WebMineral
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- Mindat
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Malachite from Mashamba West mine, Kolwezi dist., Katanga, Democratic Rep. of Congo
Malachite from Maid of Sunshine mine, Cochise Co., Arizona, United States
Malachite specimen full of tiny spherulitic crystals to 1mm formed by pseudomorphic replacement of Chrysocolla.
Malachite from Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Namibia
Tightly packed, divergent, prismatic crystals.
Malachite from Ray mine, Pinal Co., Arizona, United States
Tiny beads of Malachite to 0.75mm on water clear Selenite.
Malachite from Grandview mine, Coconino Co., Arizona, United States
Malachite crystals to about 0.75mm.
Malachite from Delta mine, Delta, San Rafael dist., Emery Co., Utah, United States
A unique specimen of bead-like groups of Malachite to 1.5mm on yellow Boltwoodite. These two minerals are in turn covered with a thin, waterclear coat of Gypsum.
Malachite from Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, United States
Green botryoidal Malachite with concentric banding.
Malachite from Luishia mine, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo
Silky, shiny, deep green, fibrous Malachite to 5cm in a box-work group.
Malachite from Detroit mine, Morenci, Greenlee Co., Arizona, United States
Handsome specimen of mostly Malachite pseudomorphs of Azurite crystals. There remains several very nice lustrous virgin Azurite crystals to 8mm. Most of the Azurite was replaced by Malachite and carry a nice, shimmering and velvety surface. These Malachite crystals are up to 8mm and are well-formed with sharp edges. Overall this is a very nice specimen originally from Les & Paula Presmyk. The Detroit mine at Morenci produced copper from 1884-1932 and is a very desirable locality.
Malachite from Lucky mine, Otero Co., New Mexico, United States
Nice fibrous Malachite crystals in 3mm in bow tie groups.