Malachite
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Distinguished by vivid emerald-to-grass-green color arranged in concentric bands and radiating fibers, malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide whose alternating light and dark zones make it instantly recognizable. It forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zones of copper deposits, with spectacular ornamental material quarried from the Ural Mountains of Russia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and Arizona. Crystallizing in the monoclinic system, it is soft at 3.5 to 4.0 on the Mohs scale. Used as both gemstone and pigment since at least 3000 BCE, this budget-tier semi-precious stone is fashioned into cabochons, beads, carvings, and decorative architectural panels.
Physical & Optical Properties
Category
Semi-Precious Gems
Mohs Hardness
3,5 – 4,0
Specific Gravity
3,25 – 4,1
Refractive Index
1,655 – 1,909
Crystal System
Monoclinic
Luster
Vitreous,Silky,Dull (Earthy)
Cleavage
Perfect
Fracture
Conchoidal,Splintery
Color
green
Birefringence
0,25
Pleochroism
Absent
Mohs Hardness
Mohs Hardness: 3,5 – 4,0
1 Soft10 Hard
Crystal System
Value & Market
Price Tier
Budget (< $50/ct)
Where to Buy Malachite
Blue Nile
Fine jewelry retailer
James Allen
Gemstone jewelry
Brilliant Earth
Ethically sourced gems
Amazon
Wide selection
Links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Treatments
3.5 to 4Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references
3.25 to 4.10Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references
PerfectWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references
Conchoidal,SplinteryArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
Sensitive to heat and hot waters.Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
1.655 to 1.909Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) BlinkingMore from other references
Biaxial/-Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references
0.250 to 0.254Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references
AbsentWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references
NoneWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references
Deep saturated green and show characteristic bandingMichael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references
Green, Cu2+ in octahedral coordinationW. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011)
OpaqueUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references
Vitreous,Silky,Dull (Earthy)Arthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009)
NoneWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001)
MonoclinicHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references
Aggregates of radial fibres with botryoidal forms or stalactitic/stalacmitic structureUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references
Malachite occurs as a common secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of copper ore deposits and can be an ore of copper.Michael O?Donoghue, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006)
Often intergrown with azurite, turquoise, chrysocolla - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 4
Malachite information at mindat.org
DR Congo
Namibia
Gems, Sixth Edition, Michael O’Donoghue, 2006, p. 426
Peru
J.Hyrsl (2012) Gemstones of Peru, p. 55
Russia
Gems, Sixth Edition, Michael O’Donoghue, 2006, p. 426
USA
Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 37.
About Malachite
La malaquita es un carbonato de cobre de un intenso verde esmeralda con bandas concéntricas que van del verde claro al verde oscuro, dotada de un lustre sedoso a vítreo. Explotada desde hace más de 5.000 años en la Península del Sinaí y Chipre, ha sido pigmento, cosméticos, joya y objeto decorativo en todas las grandes civilizaciones. La mina Ural en Rusia produjo bloques enormes que decoraron el Palacio de Invierno de San Petersburgo, mientras que los yacimientos actuales más importantes se hallan en la República Democrática del Congo y Namibia.
Jewelry Use
Durability
2/10
Science FYI Family
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Malachite?
La malaquita es un carbonato de cobre de un intenso verde esmeralda con bandas concéntricas que van del verde claro al verde oscuro, dotada de un lustre sedoso a vítreo. Explotada desde hace más de 5.000 años en la Península del Sinaí y Chipre, ha sido pigmento, cosméticos, joya y objeto decorativo
What is the hardness of Malachite?
Malachite has a Mohs hardness of 3.5 to 4.0, making it relatively soft for use in jewelry.
What color is Malachite?
Malachite is primarily Green.
How much does Malachite cost?
Malachite falls into the Budget (< $50/ct) price range. Prices vary based on color, clarity, cut, and origin.
What is the crystal system of Malachite?
Malachite belongs to the Monoclinic crystal system.