Pseudomalachite
Mineral Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
About it
Looks like malachite in dark green banded crusts and botryoidal masses, but does not fizz in acid. Fine specimens come from the Congo, Zambia, and the Virneberg mine in Germany.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Phosphate
- Formula
- Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 4–4.5
- Specific gravity
- 4.15–4.35
- Streak
- bluish green
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), adamantine (diamond-like)
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- dark green, emerald green, blackish green
- Transparency
- translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- in one direction; splintery fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.