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Malachite is a copper carbonate mineral, with the formula Cu2CO3(OH)2. This green-colored mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses. Individual crystals are rare but do occur as slender to acicular prisms. The stone's name derives from Greek molochitis lithos, "mallow-green stone." Malachite often results from weathering of copper ores and is often found together with azurite, goethite, and calcite. Except for its vibrant green color, the properties of malachite are similar to those of azurite and aggregates of the two minerals occur frequently. Large quantities of malachite have been mined in the Urals, Russia. It is found worldwide including in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Gabon; Zambia; Tsumeb, Namibia; Mexico; Broken Hill, New South Wales; Lyon, France; and in the Southwestern United States notably in Arizona. (source: Wikipedia) The piece below is from Zaire, and is on display at the Mewbourne College of Earth & Energy at the University of Oklahoma Photos by Michael Marcotte Above photo is of (blue) azurite on malachite (green) from Arizona (blue) azurite and malachite (green) Return to List Back to Michael's Hobbies page Back to Michael Marcotte's HomePage