Azurite and Malachite
Nevada lode near La Sole
San Juan Co, Utah

This specimen measures 28cm x 14cm




Azurite       Cu2CO3(OH)2

Carbonates; basic copper carbonate

Color and Luster: Azure-blue, dark blue; vitreous, dull; streak blue

Hardness: 3.5-4

Cleavage: Good, two directions

Fracture: Conchoidal, brittle

Crystals: Monoclinic; usually in well-formed equidimensional or tabular crystals; also radiating, botryoidal, incrusting, earthy
Polymorph of Malachite


Malachite      Cu2CO3(OH)2

Carbonates; basic copper carbonate

Color and Luster: Emerald-green, grass-green, dark green; adamantine, silky, dull; streak light green

Hardness: 3.5-4

Cleavage: Perfect, one direction crosswise

Fracture: Conchoidal, splintery

Crystals: Monoclinic; crystals rare and usually short or long prismatic; also radial, fibrous, botryoidal, stalactitic, incrusting, earthy

Photo by Mary Sutherland


Descriptions taken from
The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals