Name/Title
MalachiteEntry/Object ID
2009.62.226Description
Description: Common Name: Malachite
Chemistry: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2, Copper Carbonate Hydroxide.
Group: Carbonates
Location: Arizona
Description: Polished green and nodular.
THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MALACHITE:
Color is banded light and dark green or (if crystalline), just dark green.
Luster is dull in massive forms and silky as crystals.
Transparency is opaque in massive form and translucent in crystalline forms.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m.
Crystal Habitsin its massive forms are botryoidal, stalactitic or globular. Crystals are acicular or fibrous and form in tufts and encrustations. Frequently found as pseudomorphs of azurite.
Cleavage is good in one direction but rarely seen.
Fracture is conchoidal to splintery.
Hardness is 3.5-4.
Specific Gravity is 3.9+ (slightly heavy).
Streak is green.
Other Characteristics: Weakly effervesces in acid.
Associated Minerals include limonite, chalcopyrite, bornite, native copper, calcite, cuprite, azurite, chrysocolla and many rare copper minerals such as kolwezite, shattuckite, antlerite, brochantite, graemite, aurichalcite, sphaerocobaltite, atacamite, chalcophyllite, conichalcite, rosasite, chalcosiderite, clinoclase, cornetite, duftite, libethenite, liroconite, mixite and mottramite among others.
Best Field Indicators are color banding, softness, associations and reaction to acid.Collection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2009.62Source or Donor
Museum Collection of MineralsAcquisition Method
DonationLocation
Location
* Untyped Location
DS-11Room
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
ExhibitMoved By
Ian C.Date
January 21, 2025Notes
USA Case InstallationLocation
Display Case
FS-4-ARoom
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumDate
January 4, 2024