MALACHITE, Rum Jungle, Northern Territory Australia (miniature), calcite

Malachite is a mineral composed of copper carbonate hydroxide, represented by the chemical formula Cu2CO3(OH)2. This opaque mineral features distinctive green bands and crystallizes within the monoclinic system. It typically forms in botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic shapes in fractures and subterranean environments, where the presence of hydrothermal fluids and the water table facilitate chemical precipitation. While individual crystals are uncommon, they can appear as slender or acicular prisms, and pseudomorphs resembling more tabular or blocky azurite crystals are also found.

Malachite from Rum Jungle in the Northern Territory is a prized green copper carbonate mineral, often found in botryoidal or velvety forms. It is typically sourced from locations like Brown's Prospect and White's Mine, near the East Branch of the Finniss River. These malachite specimens are frequently found alongside minerals such as pyromorphite, cerussite, and wulfenite, and they can display striking deep green or black-green hues.