Malachite definition

mălə-kīt
A bright green, monoclinic mineral, copper carbonate, Cu2CO3(OH)2, that is an ore of copper and is used as a gem and to make ornamental objects.
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A bright-green monoclinic mineral occurring as a mass of crystals (an aggregate) with smooth or botryoidal (grape-shaped) surfaces. It is often concentrically banded in different shades of green. Malachite often occurs together with the mineral azurite in copper deposits. Chemical formula: Cu2CO3(OH)2.
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(mineralogy) A bright green mineral, a basic copper carbonate, Cu2CO3(OH)2; one of the principal ores of copper.
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A mild green colour, like that of the mineral.

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From olive-taupe to that of a mild to deeply-rich -- at times seemingly translucent -- green colour, like that of the mineral which is present on oxidized copper.
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A light to dark green carbonate mineral, Cu2 CO3 (OH)2 , used as a source of copper and for ornamental purposes.
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Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
malachite
Plural:
malachites

Origin of malachite

  • Middle English melochite from Latin molochītes from Greek molokhītis from malakhē, molokhē mallow of Semitic origin mlḥ in Semitic roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin molochitis, from Ancient Greek μαλαχή (malakhe, “[leaf of the ... ] mallow plant"). Or, could be from Hebrew מלאך (mal'ach) [ "angel" or "messenger of God" ], or, perhaps hailing from another Ancient Greek term, μαλαχ- [ "fingers" ].

    From Wiktionary

Malachite Sentence Examples

  • In its vivid blue colour it contrasts strikingly with the emerald-green malachite, also a basic copper carbonate, but containing rather more water and less carbon dioxide.

  • Azurite occurs with malachite in the upper portions of deposits of copper ore, and owes its origin to the alteration of the sulphide or of native copper by water containing carbon dioxide and oxygen.

  • Occasionally the massive material is cut and polished for decorative purposes, though the application in this direction is far less extensive than that of malachite.

  • Lastly, from the Altai region, as well as from the Nerchinsk Mountains, precious stones, such as jasper, malachite, beryl, dark quartz, and the like, are exported.

  • Many are found as minerals, the more important of such naturally occurring carbonates being cerussite (lead carbonate, PbC03), malachite and azurite (both basic copper carbonates), calamine (zinc carbonate, ZnCO 3), witherite (barium carbonate, BaCO 3), strontianite (strontium carbonate, SrC03), calcite (calcium carbonate, CaC03), dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate, CaCO 3 MgCO 3), and sodium carbonate, Na 2 CO 3.

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