Malachite is a native hydrous carbonate of copper, usually occurring in green mammillary masses with concentric fibrous structure. It is a widely distributed copperore. Found in the oxidized portions of copper veins and is often associated with cuprite, native copper, iron oxides, and sulphides of copper and iron. It often occurs in copper veins that are found in limestone. Green malachite, or malachite proper, admits of a high polish, and is sometimes used for ornamental work. Blue malachite, or azurite, is a related species of a deep blue colour.
Malachite has the formulae Ci2(CO3)(OH)2 and a relative hardness of 4. Research Malachite
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