Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂
Malachite
The malachite room of the Winter Palace is slabs of banded copper carbonate from the Urals.
- Formula
- Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5–4
- Crystal system
- monoclinic
- Colour
- green
- Element
- earth
- Chakra (tradition)
- heart
- Zodiac
- Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus
- Month
- —
- Where the earth keeps it
- Congo, Russia, Zambia
What it actually is
Malachite is Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂ before it is a story. The lattice is monoclinic, Mohs 3.5–4, and the eye meets green.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in Congo, Russia, Zambia. The malachite room of the Winter Palace is slabs of banded copper carbonate from the Urals.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Malachite to earth and to the heart centre. The old site stood it near: Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus.
How not to turn it to ash
Softer than a steel knife. No ultrasonic bath, no acid, no sudden heat. Dust wants a dry cloth.