Malachite
Mineral Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
About it
Banded green masses, velvety tufts, and stalactites with a pale green streak; it fizzes in acid. Forms where copper ores weather, often with azurite; famous banded material comes from the DR Congo and the Urals.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Carbonate, malachite group
- Formula
- Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3.5–4
- Specific gravity
- 3.6–4.05
- Streak
- pale green
- Lustre
- adamantine (diamond-like), vitreous (glassy), silky, dull
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- bright green, dark green, blackish green
- Transparency
- translucent, opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- perfect in one direction; subconchoidal to uneven fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.