Botryoidal
Malachite
This is a
slab (cross sectional view) of a specimen of Malachite similar to the one
pictured above. The concentric growth lines are nicely displayed.
A common occurrence of Malachite
with Azurite in Limonite.
A side view of broken botryoidal Malachite showing its fibrous crystal habit.
Malachite coating a crystal of Azurite.
Field of view of the photo on the left
is 2.5". Close-up on right.
CHEMISTRY Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Monoclinic
CRYSTAL GROWTH AND HABITS Malachite commonly forms fibrous to silky crusts and is also massive. It is common as a psuedomorph after azurite.
COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES Green, translucent to opaque
HARDNESS 3.5 - 4
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 3.9 - 4.0
LUSTER Vitreous to dull
STREAK Green
BREAKABILITY Splintery fracture with basal cleavage, brittle
OCCURRENCE A secondary mineral formed by the weathering of copper deposits
ASSOCIATED MINERALS Azurite, Cuprite, Brochantite, Chrysocolla, Tenorite