malachite
Sign in to saveMalachite () 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.
AI overview
Malachite is a green mineral made of copper, carbon, and oxygen that typically forms banded patterns and grows in underground spaces where water and hot fluids cause it to crystallize. It has been valued throughout history for its distinctive appearance and has been used as a decorative stone, pigment, and source of copper.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Mineral.name
- Malachite
- Mineral.category
- Carbonate mineral
- Mineral.boxbgcolor
- 3fce68
- Mineral.image
- Malachite, Zaire.jpg
- Mineral.caption
- Malachite from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Mineral.formula
- Cu2CO3(OH)2
- Mineral.IMAsymbol
- Mlc
- Mineral.molweight
- 221.1 g/mol
- Mineral.strunz
- 5.BA.10
- Mineral.system
- Monoclinic
- Mineral.class
- Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol)
- Mineral.symmetry
- P21/a
- Mineral.color
Article
11 sectionsContents
- Etymology and history
- Occurrence
- Structure
- Use
- Symbolism and superstitions
- Ore uses
- Health and environmental concerns
- Gallery
- See also
- References
- External links
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.
==Etymology and history== thumb|left|The entrance to the Neolithic era malachite mine complex on the [[Great Orme, Wales]] The stone's name derives (via , , and Middle English melochites) from Greek Μολοχίτης λίθος molochites lithos, "mallow-green stone", from μολόχη molochē, variant of μαλάχη malāchē, "mallow". The mineral was given this name due to its resemblance to the leaves of the mallow plant. Copper (Cu2+) gives malachite its green color.