Malachite
| Colour | Green, Black, Yellow |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 3.5–4 |
| Lustre | Adamantine to vitreous; silky if fibrous; dull to earthy if massive |
| Streak | light green |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Transparency | Translucent to opaque |
| Cleavage | Perfect on {{mset|01}} fair on |
| Fracture | Subconchoidal to uneven |
| Chemical formula | Cu 2 CO 3 (OH) 2 |
| Specific gravity | 3.6–4 |
What is Malachite?
Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral, with the formula Cu2CO3(OH)2. This opaque, green-banded mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses, in fractures and deep, underground spaces, where the water table and hydrothermal fluids provide the means for chemical precipitation. Individual crystals are rare, but occur as slender to acicular prisms. Pseudomorphs after more tabular or blocky azurite crystals also occur.
How to identify Malachite
- Lustre: Adamantine to vitreous; silky if fibrous; dull to earthy if massive.
- Hardness: Mohs 3.5–4 — soft; a knife will scratch it.
- Streak: light green.
- Habit: Monoclinic crystal system.
Malachite in different forms
Stones often confused with Malachite
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Malachite?
Malachite is Mohs 3.5–4 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Malachite?
Malachite is typically green, black, yellow (Bright green, dark green, blackish green, with crystals deeper shades of green, even very dark to nearly black commonly ).