Malachite

File:Malachit, Kupferspat.jpg

A polished sample of malachite showing off its color and patterns.

Malachite is a mineral known for its green colour. It is the mineral form of basic copper carbonate, with the chemical formula Cu
2CO
3(OH)
2. Malachite has been used as a pigment, for construction and decoration, and as an ore of copper.

It is related to azurite, another colourful copper carbonate ore. It also looks very similar to annabergite, which is a nickel ore. Miners confusing malachite and annabergite is what led to the discovery and name of nickel.

Malachite Media

• Great Orme Copper Mine - geograph.org.uk - 819.jpg

  The entrance to the Neolithic era malachite mine complex on the Great Orme, Wales

• Outokumpu malachite.jpg

  Malachite in the walls of Outokumpu's old mine.

• Ajuar funerario de la Reina Roja - 8.jpg

  The funerary mask of the Red Queen of Palenque is made from a mosaic of malachite.

• Natural copper nugget.jpg

  Natural copper nugget, 44 grams. Original size in cm: 1 x 2.5 x 3.5

• Malachite 001.png

  View along c axis of the crystal structure of malachite

• Malachite 100.png

  View along a axis of malachite crystal structure

• Malachite 010.png

  View along b axis of malachite crystal structure

• Malachite-unit-cell-3D-bs-17.png

  Unit cell of malachite

• Malachite-formula-unit-and-coordination-fade-25-from-xtal-3D-bs-17-25.png

  Formula unit and its coordination environment

• Coordination environment of copper #1