A vivid green copper carbonate mineral, malachite is prized for its distinctive banded patterns. It is a secondary mineral that forms in the oxidized zones of copper deposits. Color: Bright green with banding. Luster: Vitreous to silky. Streak: Light green. Cleavage: Perfect in one direction. Hardness: 3.5-4. Transparency: Translucent to opaque. Crystal system: Monoclinic. Chemical formula: Cu₂CO₃ OH ₂. Specific gravity: 3.9-4.0. Formation: Forms from the weathering and oxidation of primary copper sulfide minerals. Precipitates from copper-bearing groundwater. Common geological settings: Found in oxidized zones of copper deposits, often associated with azurite, chrysocolla, and native copper. Common in arid and semi-arid regions. Common look-alikes and related entries: Azurite, Chrysocolla.
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Sources, scope & corrections
These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
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Last updated
2026-03-30T14:39:40.315428+00:00
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Published; not independently peer-reviewed
IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.
A vivid green copper carbonate mineral, malachite is prized for its distinctive banded patterns. It is a secondary mineral that forms in the oxidized zones of copper deposits.
How can you identify Malachite?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: Bright green with banding; lustre: Vitreous to silky; streak: Light green; Mohs hardness: 3.5-4; cleavage: Perfect in one direction; crystal system: Monoclinic; transparency: Translucent to opaque. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Malachite form?
Forms from the weathering and oxidation of primary copper sulfide minerals. Precipitates from copper-bearing groundwater.
Where is Malachite commonly found?
Found in oxidized zones of copper deposits, often associated with azurite, chrysocolla, and native copper. Common in arid and semi-arid regions.
What is Malachite commonly confused with?
Malachite may be confused with Azurite, Chrysocolla. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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