On this page
UnderstandWhat it is, what people ask, how far this page goes
Natural inorganic gem materials · Mineral species · Natural; treatment common (require certificate to distinguish)
Malachite
A copper carbonate mineral species with the formula Cu2CO3(OH)2. It is occasionally resin-stabilised or waxed, which must be disclosed. This page compares how the major standards and institutions name it, what must be disclosed when selling it, whether it can be worn every day, how it is treated and identified, and which source each conclusion comes from.
Price, rarity and origin are outside the scope of this wiki.
Questions people ask about Malachite
Every sentence below is followed by the registered fact it rests on; answers add no new facts and promise no outcome.
Q1Is there fake or synthetic malachite, and what does the real mineral look like?
Synthetic malachite exists but is uncommon in the trade.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022Natural malachite is a vivid green to bluish green and usually shows bands in two or more shades of green.CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024It is a crystalline aggregate, usually fibrous or crust-like.GB/T 16553—2017It is opaque.CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.What this page can answer
Q2How should you clean malachite, and what can damage it?
Ultrasonic and steam cleaners should be avoided, and so should chemicals.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)Malachite can be porous, so it should not come into contact with coloured fluids.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022It is attacked by acids and fuses easily under a jeweller's torch.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)It effervesces on contact with hydrochloric acid.GB/T 16553—2017A mineral-conservation database records that malachite decomposes in hot water, and a gemstone durability study notes that porous stones such as malachite may absorb cleaning solution and discolour.Mineral Sensitivity Database, Oxford (2021) · Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
Q3What gives malachite its green bands?
Its green comes from its copper carbonate composition, and polished pieces show concentric green banding.G&G Fall 2022The bands form as precipitation builds botryoidal, reniform, fibrous or stalagmitic aggregates that may show internal banding.G&G Winter 2023 · G&G Fall 2022Its formula is Cu2CO3(OH)2.GB/T 16553—2017
Q4Is malachite stabilized or waxed?
Some malachite is impregnated with plastic or other hardeners to improve durability and appearance, and such pieces need special care, away from chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning.AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.Malachite coated with colourless wax also needs special care, away from chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning.AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.In filled material, the filled part differs in lustre and usually in UV fluorescence, and infrared spectra and fluorescence imaging show the filler and where it lies.GB/T 16553—2017Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.What this page can answer
Q5How does malachite form, and how is it related to azurite?
Malachite is a secondary mineral of the oxidized zone of copper deposits, laid down by hydrothermal fluids in fractures and underground cavities after weathering and oxidation have acted on the orebody at the surface.G&G Winter 2023It is a basic copper carbonate, and it is the weathered product of azurite, its blue parent mineral.G&G Fall 2022The two minerals are seldom found apart, both developing in the exposed, weathered parts of a copper orebody.G&G Fall 2022The source does not state an absolute geological timescale for malachite formation.G&G Winter 2023
Q6Is malachite durable enough for everyday jewellery?
It needs care: malachite has low hardness, so it scratches easily, and it cleaves or fractures easily or is brittle, so it should be worn with care.CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022Its Mohs hardness is 3.5–4.GB/T 16553—2017Prong, bezel and channel settings call for caution, and flush and pavé are best avoided.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
Q7Does malachite fade in sunlight?
Display-case heat, sunlight and artificial light are all rated relatively safe for malachite.Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
Q8Is malachite dust or contact a health concern?
For copper dusts and mists, and other copper compounds, the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards gives a workplace exposure limit of 1 milligram per cubic metre as a time-weighted average; the guide does not name malachite or say anything about wearing finished jewellery.NIOSH Pocket Guide: copperNaming, disclosure and labelling information on this site is reference material and does not constitute legal advice. Actual labelling duties follow the regulations in force in each jurisdiction and the testing certificates that accompany the goods; verify independently or consult a professional before relying on it.What this page can answer
Q9What has malachite been used for, and does it have healing powers?
There is no scientific evidence that malachite has healing powers: the UK advertising regulators ASA and CAP state that they have not seen evidence that crystal therapy can treat medical conditions.ASA/CAP guidance (UK)It has been used since antiquity as a green pigment and cosmetic, traceable to ancient Egypt's predynastic period, 6000 to 3100 BCE, as an eye paint.G&G Fall 2022Most malachite objects in the Metropolitan Museum's collection are 18th–19th-century European ornamental works.The Met 07.228.71 · The Met 29.100.903 +5
Sources cited in these answers ASA/CAP guidance (UK)
What this page can answer
This page covers
- How Malachite forms and what gives its colourFormation setting, process and timescale, each finding graded and sourced
- How to identify MalachiteHow far lab testing can go and whether a synthetic exists
- Treatments and enhancements of Malachite3 registered treatments: status, stability, how common they are and identification leads
- Caring for and wearing MalachiteCleaning, heat, chemicals and light, as the cited sources give them
- Hardness, density and refractive index of MalachiteEach value with its source and check date
- Malachite in English, Chinese and Japanese; national standard namesNames in four languages, the GB/T standard name and the suggested listing name, names in national standards; and: Which of GIA, FTC, CIBJO and Gem-A have a name for it on record, and do those agree?
- Name origin and history of MalachiteHow people have used it, with museum objects
- Listing and disclosing MalachiteThe listing name to use; what must be disclosed before sale
- Standard clauses that define MalachiteWhich clause defines it, each cross-checked
What we cannot conclude
- Whether one particular bead is natural, treated or synthetic — only a laboratory report can settle that.
- Geographic origin, unless an origin report accompanies the item.
- Price, rarity or investment value: this wiki covers naming and disclosure only.
Material research: formation, causes and history
What authoritative sources say about how this material forms, what causes its colour and optical effects, where its name comes from and how people have used it. Each statement carries an evidence grade and its sources; it describes the material in general, not any specific piece.
How it forms
Malachite is a basic copper carbonate and belongs to the oxidized (supergene) zone of copper deposits, where it arises as a secondary mineral. It is deposited from hydrothermal fluids inside fractures and underground cavities, after weathering and oxidation have acted on a copper orebody at the surface. Malachite is the weathered product of azurite, its blue parent mineral, and the two are seldom encountered separately. Deposition yields botryoidal, reniform, fibrous or stalagmitic aggregates that frequently display internal banding, consistent with an origin as a secondary copper carbonate precipitated where copper-bearing solutions meet a carbonate setting.
Scope: Covers the origin of malachite as a secondary copper carbonate mineral of the oxidation zone of copper deposits, together with its historical use as a pigment; does not address synthetic or imitation materials.
Sources G&G Winter 2023 · G&G Fall 2022
Where it forms
The oxidized/supergene zone of copper deposits, in low-temperature fluids within fractures and underground spaces
Sources G&G Winter 2023 · G&G Fall 2022
Copper ore bodies exposed to surface weathering, commonly intergrown with azurite
Sources G&G Winter 2023 · G&G Fall 2022
How it forms, step by step
A copper ore body forms, containing primary minerals such as copper sulfides.
In fractures and underground cavities, hydrothermal fluids lay down the copper carbonate minerals malachite and azurite as secondary phases.
The ore body undergoes surface weathering and oxidation, and azurite further weathers to malachite.
Precipitation builds botryoidal, reniform, fibrous, or stalagmitic aggregates that may show internal banding.
Link to appearance
Malachite's green color comes from its copper carbonate composition; its massive appearance reflects the aggregate habit (botryoidal, reniform), and polished pieces show concentric green banding.
Sources G&G Fall 2022
Timescale
The source does not state an absolute geological timescale for malachite formation.
Sources G&G Winter 2023
Supporting findings
Malachite belongs to the oxidized (supergene) zone of copper deposits as a secondary mineral; hydrothermal fluids deposit it inside fractures and underground cavities, after weathering and oxidation have acted on the orebody at the surface.
Evidence grade AScope: Applies to natural secondary malachite; excludes synthetic material.
Sources G&G Winter 2023
The two minerals are seldom encountered separately; both develop in the exposed, weathered portions of a copper orebody.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes their intergrowth and occurrence environment.
Recorded localities
Authoritative sources list the localities below; the list is not exhaustive.
Africa
- Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sources G&G Winter 2023 · G&G Winter 2017 · Handbook of Mineralogy
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
Europe
- Nizhny Tagil and Yekaterinburg area, Ural Mountains, Russia
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
North America
- Bisbee, Arizona, United States
Sources Handbook of Mineralogy
These are localities recorded by authoritative sources, not an origin finding for any individual piece. The CIBJO Gemstone Book (2022, §4.2.3) says a place of origin names where a gem was mined or harvested, is a matter of opinion, does not imply a level of quality, and that cutting, processing or exporting centres must not be used to imply origin. See how far testing can go on this page, the origin determination guide and the overview of recorded localities.
Human use and museum objects
Malachite has been used since antiquity as a green pigment and cosmetic, traceable to ancient Egypt's predynastic period from 6000 to 3100 BCE as an eye paint.
Evidence grade AScope: Concerns historical-cultural use, not geological formation.
Collection evidence shows an early instance of malachite in Late Predynastic Egypt, ca. 3450-3300 B.C. (Met 07.228.71); as beadwork it is documented on Edo-period Japanese inro ojime beads (Met 29.100.903, 91.1.682). Most malachite objects in the collection are 18th-19th century European ornamental works (e.g. Met 44.152a, b, 64.163.1a-d).
Evidence grade AScope: Applies to collection objects recorded as malachite; modern specimens and synthetic material are not covered.
Sources The Met 07.228.71 · The Met 29.100.903 · The Met 91.1.682 +4
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Figurine of a Seated Woman (07.228.71)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Inrō with Chinese Scholars and Characters (29.100.903)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Inrō with Stylized Flower Patterns in Interconnected Roundels (91.1.682)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Theatrical Collar (35.140.10)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Monumental vase (44.152a, b)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Twelve-light torchère (one of a pair) (64.163.1a–d)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Large candlestick (one of a pair, part of a set) (1982.88.4)
Among the Metropolitan Museum's malachite holdings, the earliest piece is a figurine of a seated woman from Late Predynastic Egypt (ca. 3450-3300 B.C., northern Upper Egypt, acc. 07.228.71), whose material field includes malachite. Malachite as beadwork is documented on two Edo-period Japanese inro (18th century) whose ojime beads are malachite (acc. 29.100.903, 91.1.682), and an 18th-century Chinese theatrical collar (35.140.10) contains malachite. The bulk of the collection's malachite objects, however, are 18th-19th century European decorative works - a monumental Russian malachite vase (44.152a, b), a twelve-light torchère of ca. 1840 (64.163.1a-d), and an 1851 gilt-bronze and malachite candlestick set (1982.88.4) - so the collection evidence is mostly modern ornamental ware rather than ancient beadwork.
Sources The Met 07.228.71 · The Met 29.100.903 · The Met 91.1.682 +4
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Figurine of a Seated Woman (07.228.71)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Inrō with Chinese Scholars and Characters (29.100.903)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Inrō with Stylized Flower Patterns in Interconnected Roundels (91.1.682)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Theatrical Collar (35.140.10)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Monumental vase (44.152a, b)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Twelve-light torchère (one of a pair) (64.163.1a–d)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Large candlestick (one of a pair, part of a set) (1982.88.4)
Scope: A museum object evidences only the existence and date of that artefact itself; it does not establish widespread ancient use of the material, nor does it attest the origin, naturalness, or treatment of any modern specimen.
Objects cited
- The Met 07.228.71Limestone, organic material, paint, malachite
- The Met 29.100.903Three cases; lacquered wood with black and brown takamaki-e, togidashimaki-e Netsuke: manjū type, ivory; writing implements and books Ojime: malachite bead
- The Met 91.1.682Inrō: four cases; lacquered wood with gold, silver, yellow, and red togidashimaki-e, mother-of-pearl inlay on black lacquer ground; ojime: malachite bead; netsuke: openwork (ryūsa); ivory
- The Met 35.140.10Silk, metallic thread, jade, gilt metal, kingfisher feathers, amber, mother-of-pearl, malachite, faux pearls, glass, various stones
- The Met 44.152a, bRussian malachite, composite filling material; gilt-bronze mounts; bronze pedestal
- The Met 64.163.1a–dMalachite veneered on copper, patinated bronze, gilt bronze
- The Met 1982.88.4Gilt bronze, malachite
Other research findings
Malachite is a basic copper carbonate, while azurite is the blue mineral from which it descends, malachite being azurite’s weathered product.
Evidence grade AScope: Describes the composition and transformation relationship between malachite and azurite.
A mineral-conservation database records that malachite decomposes in hot water. A study of gemstone durability notes that porous stones such as malachite may absorb some of a cleaning solution, which could cause discolouration.
Evidence grade BScope: Reports what the cited source says about this material; it is not a cleaning or care instruction for any particular piece, and treated or dyed material may behave differently.
Sources Mineral Sensitivity Database, Oxford (2021) · Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards sets a recommended exposure limit, and lists the OSHA permissible exposure limit, of 1 milligram per cubic metre as a time-weighted average for copper dusts and mists (as copper), and notes that both limits also apply to other copper compounds (as copper) except copper fume.
Evidence grade AScope: Summarises a US occupational exposure limit for airborne dust in the workplace; the cited text does not name this mineral and says nothing about wearing or handling finished jewellery. Not medical advice. Not legal advice.
Sources NIOSH Pocket Guide: copper
Limits of this research
- Research status: Formation, occurrence or other material-specific findings found in authoritative sources
- The sources state no absolute geological timescale for malachite formation.
- The proportion and specific P-T conditions of malachite's weathering from azurite are not quantified in these sources.
Methodology
- Origin determination and its limits
- Quality grading and value factors
- How gemmology became a technical discipline
Evidence grades
- A
- Standards bodies, government geological surveys, peer-reviewed research and museum records
- B
- Institutional educational material
- C
- Specialist databases or cautious readings
A statement is never graded above its strongest source.
This section is LumaLark's own factual restatement of public authoritative sources, credited item by item; it contains no verbatim excerpts, images or third-party logos.
DecideListing name, disclosure, care and treatments
- Suggested listing name
- Malachite
GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2 “Malachite” · CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 §7.2.1.137 “Malachite”
Construction or treatment status
Natural; treatment common (require certificate to distinguish)
Treatments recorded for this material: Filled / Fracture-filled
Related:Disclosure and cautions
This page cannot answer
Natural? · Origin · Price
A lab report settles these; this wiki covers naming and disclosure.
Related:What this page can answer
Answer at a glance
Malachite is Malachite (Cu2CO3(OH)2); use "Malachite" for listings, and disclose any known treatments.
What this means for you
Before buying, check the recommended listing name "Malachite" and any disclosed treatments on this page, and ask the seller for a grading report if in doubt.
Known uncertainty
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-01
Care and wear
Normal care for every gemstone (CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.1), in brief:
- Handle it gently.
- Store pieces apart when not worn, so they cannot scratch each other.
- Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush.
- Use ultrasonic cleaners only with caution.
The §6.1 wording and the full list of §6.2 special-care letters cited on this page are on the general gem care page.
Care
care (cleaning)2 sources compared
Malachite — care (cleaning): Some stones are susceptible to damage from ultrasonic cleaning. Do not expose them to ultrasonic cleaning.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code j
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Malachite, p.61; §6.2 j (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Malachite — care (cleaning): ultrasonic and steamer: avoid; note: avoid chemicals.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Malachite row, CLEANING column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Malachite — care (chemicals): Some stones are porous. Do not allow contact with coloured fluids.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code c
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Malachite, p.61; §6.2 c (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Malachite — care (chemicals): Treatments with dye, oil, resin, wax or plastic are not permanent; keep it away from all solvents (including dish-washing liquids), chemicals and heat.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code k
- Treatment state
- treated
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Malachite, p.61; §6.2 k (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Malachite — care (wear): low hardness, so it scratches easily; wear with care; cleaves or fractures easily or is brittle (e.g. rubbed facet edges); wear with care.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
CIBJO Gemstone Book §6.2:special-care code a, special-care code b
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022) (CIBJO): §8 Annex C, Malachite, p.61; §6.2 a, b (locator checked 2026-09-25)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Malachite — care (special care): coated with colourless wax: special care (SC); avoid chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning.
AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- surface waxing
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition (August 2026) (AGTA): p.XI, Gemstone Information Chart, Malachite W, CARE REQUIRED / SPECIAL ADVICE (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Malachite — care (special care): impregnated with plastic or other hardeners to improve durability and appearance: special care (SC); avoid chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning.
AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th ed.
- Treatment state
- treated
- Only after these treatments
- impregnation
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- AGTA Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition (August 2026) (AGTA): p.XI, Gemstone Information Chart, Malachite I, CARE REQUIRED / SPECIAL ADVICE (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Malachite — care (setting): prong, bezel and channel: use caution; flush and pavé: avoid.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Malachite row, SETTING column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Malachite — care (repair): polishing: use caution; jeweller's torch, pickle pot and thermal shock: avoid; note: fuses easily under the torch and is attacked by acids.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Malachite row, REPAIR column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Malachite — care (display): heat in the display case, sunlight and artificial light: relatively safe.
Gems & Gemology 1987 (Martin)
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Martin, “Gemstone Durability: Design to Display”, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987: pp.66–67 fold-out chart, Malachite row, DISPLAY column (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Common care questions and matching entries
CleaningMalachite must not be cleaned ultrasonically; it is porous, so keep it away from coloured liquids; for malachite treated with dye, oil, resin, wax or plastic, the treatment is not permanent, so keep it away from all solvents (including dish-washing liquids), chemicals and heat; malachite is soft, scratches easily and cleaves or fractures easily, so wear it with care (CIBJO Blue Book — Official Gemstone Book (Coloured Stone Commission 2022)). UntreatedFor untreated malachite, ultrasonic and steam cleaning should be avoided, as should chemicals; prong, bezel and channel settings call for caution, and tension and pavé settings should be avoided; during repair, polishing calls for caution, and the jeweller's torch, post-soldering pickling solution and thermal shock should be avoided, as it melts very easily under a torch and is attacked by acids; heat, daylight and artificial light in display cases are relatively safe (Martin, Gemstone Durability: Design to Display, Gems & Gemology, Summer 1987). TreatedTreated malachite, only where surface-waxed or impregnated, needs special care and should be kept away from chemicals and ultrasonic cleaning (American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Gemstone Information Manual, 17th edition, August 2026).
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Question | Matching entries |
|---|---|
| Can it go in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner? | care (cleaning); ultrasonic and steamer: avoid; note: avoid chemicals |
| Heat and thermal shock | polishing: use caution; jeweller's torch, pickle pot and thermal shock: avoid; note: fuses easily under the torch and is attacked by acids |
| Light and display | heat in the display case, sunlight and artificial light: relatively safe |
| Contact with acids, alkalis and household chemicals | care (chemicals); Treatments with dye, oil, resin, wax or plastic are not permanent; keep it away from all solvents (including dish-washing liquids), chemicals and heat |
| Wearing limits (knocks, settings) | low hardness, so it scratches easily; wear with care; cleaves or fractures easily or is brittle (e.g. rubbed facet edges); wear with care; prong, bezel and channel: use caution; flush and pavé: avoid |
Care entries by treatment state
The same entries grouped by the treatment state each applies to; each links to its full wording and source. Letters are CIBJO special-care codes, explained on the gemstone care page.
any treatment state
- care (cleaning) §6.2 j
- care (chemicals) §6.2 c
- low hardness, so it scratches easily; wear with care; cleaves or fractures easily or is brittle (e.g. rubbed facet edges); wear with care §6.2 a, b
untreated
- ultrasonic and steamer: avoid; note: avoid chemicals
- prong, bezel and channel: use caution; flush and pavé: avoid
- polishing: use caution; jeweller's torch, pickle pot and thermal shock: avoid; note: fuses easily under the torch and is attacked by acids
- heat in the display case, sunlight and artificial light: relatively safe
treated
treated (Only after these treatments: surface waxing)
treated (Only after these treatments: impregnation)
Treatments and identification leads
Registered treatmentsThe treatments registered for Malachite are impregnation, surface waxing and filling. Values not givenImpregnation has the treatment state treated, an unstable effect and rare market prevalence, with identification leads and source both marked “—”; surface waxing has the treatment state treated, an unstable effect and occasional prevalence, with identification leads and source both marked “—”. Filling has the treatment state treated, with stability and prevalence both marked “—”; its identification leads are that, under magnification, the lustre of filled parts differs from that of the host stone, under long-wave and short-wave UV the fluorescence of filled parts often differs from the host, infrared spectra can show characteristic bands of the filler, and luminescence imaging equipment such as UV fluorescence viewers can show where the filler is distributed; the source is the filling clause of GB/T 16553—2017. Items marked “—” in the register mean the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Treatment | Market frequency (CIBJO) | Stability (CIBJO) | GB/T 16552 category | JJA/AGL listing | Identification leads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| impregnationStatus: treated | rarely | unstable | — | — | — |
| surface waxingStatus: treated | occasionally | unstable | — | — | — |
| fillingStatus: treated | — | — | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 | — | See identification leads |
Where each treatment acts (schematics): Impregnated · Waxed · Filled / Fracture-filled
“—” means the cited source gives no value for that item, not “none”. Source: CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022 · GB/T 16553—2017; GB/T 16552—2017 Table B.1
Whether a treatment has to show in the name differs between the two rule sets (this site’s paraphrase):
- GB/T 16552—2017: a method classed as treatment has to be stated in the name itself — the method put before the name, or added in brackets after it; a method classed as optimization does not need to appear in the name, though one marked “Optimization (annotation required)” still has to be noted in the quality documents. Source: §5.4.2.1 a), b); §5.4.2.2 a)
- CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022: no longer splits treatments into ones that need specific disclosure and ones that need only general disclosure: every treatment is to be disclosed, and the seller tells the buyer which treatment was used and what special care it calls for. Source: §4.2.5 Note 2, §4.2.5.1, pp.14–15
What this table covers
What this page can give
- Registered treatments, their stability and how often they occur (see the table above)
- Identification leads for each treatment, for use when sending a stone for testing
VerifyNames, standards, technical facts, clauses and sources
Names
Standard and listing namesThe Chinese standard name for Malachite comes from GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2; the suggested listing name is Malachite, corresponding to malachite in GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2 and to Malachite as recorded in the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024. Names in four languagesNames are registered in four languages: Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English (Malachite) and Japanese (the GSJ (Japan) formal name). Trade and mineralogical namesThe mineralogical name is Malachite (Cu2CO3(OH)2). Institution usageOn authority wording, CIBJO records Malachite; the FTC text on file has no wording using the name Malachite (checked); GIA and Gem-A are unchecked; bodies without a recorded wording show the entry's own English name, which does not represent their position. National standard namesNational and regional standard names: Germany (RAL) uses Malachit, the EU uses Malachite, and France (DGCCRF) uses Malachite.
- GSJ (Japan) formal name
- マラカイト／孔雀石
- Chinese formal name
- 孔雀石 (GB/T 16552—2017 Table A.2)
- Mineralogical name
- Malachite (Cu2CO3(OH)2)
Four-language names
- 简体中文
- 孔雀石
- 繁體中文
- 孔雀石
- English
- Malachite
- 日本語
- マラカイト／孔雀石
National and regional formal names
- Germany (RAL)
- Malachit
- European Union
- Malachite
- France (DGCCRF)
- Malachite
See also: Misleading and prohibited trade names · Supplementary name index
Classification
- Origin
- Natural materials
- Material domain
- Natural inorganic gem materials
- Browsing family
- Carbonate minerals
- Identity tier
- Mineral species
- Mineral chemical class
- Carbonates
- Construction or treatment status
- Natural; treatment common (require certificate to distinguish)
Treatments listed by standards
In the “Malachite” row of GB/T 16552—2017, Annex B, Table B.1, the treatment method for Malachite is filling, which improves or changes durability and appearance, and its category is graded; what Table B.1 is and how the grades are defined are on this site's Gem treatments page.
GB/T 16552-2017, Annex B, Table B.1
Table B.1, row “Malachite” (p.16):
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Method | Effect | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Filling | Improves or changes durability and appearance | Graded — see §5.4.1, Table 1 |
What Table B.1 is, and how the “see 5.4.1” grades are defined: see the GB/T 16552: optimization vs treatment page.
What it is and how it's identified
The material facts for Malachite are all registered for Malachite itself, with the density limits converted from the clause value; Malachite is a copper carbonate mineral species with chemical composition Cu2CO3(OH)2, and its phase is malachite. The structure is a crystalline aggregate, mostly in fibrous, crust-like and similar forms. Mohs hardness is 3.5–4; GB/T 16553—2017 records cleavage as usually not seen in aggregates, Handbook of Mineralogy records perfect cleavage for untreated malachite, and toughness is not stated in the cited sources. Density is 3.25–4.1 g/cm³, converted from the cited clause value of 3.95 with the tolerance (+0.15, −0.70). Refractive index is 1.655–1.909; optic character anisotropic aggregate; birefringence not measurable in aggregates; pleochroism not measurable in aggregates (untreated); transparency opaque. When untreated, lustre is silky to vitreous, and fluorescence of untreated malachite is generally inert. The UV-visible spectrum is not diagnostic; the infrared spectrum shows the characteristic malachite absorption bands in the mid-infrared region. Untreated malachite effervesces with a drop of hydrochloric acid.
Registered material facts
Each row carries its own source and check date and can be cited on its own; “—” means the cited source gives no value, not “none”.
Definition
Malachite — nomenclature status: IMA status G: grandfathered (described before the IMA existed, and generally regarded as a valid species).
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Malachite — composition (chemistry): Cu2CO3 (OH) 2
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — composition (phase): malachite
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Structure
Malachite — structure (overall): crystalline aggregate, usually fibrous or crust-like
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Durability
Mohs hardness2 sources compared
Reference points on this site: Talc 1–3, Fluorite 4, Apatite 5–5.5, Orthoclase 6–6.5, Topaz 8, Diamond 10 (Source: GB/T 16553—2017); Gypsum 1.5–2, Calcite 3, Quartz 7 (Source: Handbook of Mineralogy); Corundum 9 (Source: GIA Gem Encyclopedia (care guide))
Malachite — Mohs hardness: 3.5–4
Handbook of Mineralogy
Source & check 2026-09-20
- Source
- Handbook of Mineralogy — Malachite (Mineral Data Publishing): p. 1, Physical Properties (locator checked 2026-09-20)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-20
Malachite — Mohs hardness: 3.5–4
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Malachite — cleavage: generally not seen on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — toughness: cleavage perfect; tenacity not stated in the cited source.
Handbook of Mineralogy
- Treatment state
- untreated
Source & check 2026-09-20
- Source
- Handbook of Mineralogy — Malachite (Mineral Data Publishing): p. 1, Physical Properties (locator checked 2026-09-20)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-20
Malachite — stability: effervesces on contact with hydrochloric acid
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
For Malachite, the stability of impregnation is “unstable”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- impregnation
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
For Malachite, the stability of surface waxing is “unstable”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- surface waxing
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Physical properties
Malachite — density: 3.25–4.1 g/cm³
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
The clause we cite gives 3.95, with a stated tolerance of +0.15 / -0.70. The range shown here is worked out from that.
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Optical
Malachite — optic character: anisotropic material
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — refractive index: 1.655–1.909
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — birefringence: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — transparency: opaque.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Malachite — pleochroism: not measurable on an aggregate
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — fluorescence (overall): none
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — spectrum (UV-visible): non-characteristic
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — spectrum (infrared): In the mid-IR, malachite shows its own diagnostic band pattern.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — magnification: bands, zoned rings or concentric layers, radiating fibrous structure.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
body colour2 sources compared
Malachite — body colour: Vivid, bluish green to green, usually banded in two or more tones of green.
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Qualification
In chapter 7 of the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book, the colour descriptions of Aquamarine, Chrysocolla, Dioptase and other entries also name green or a greenish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-22
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-22
Malachite — body colour: vivid, from slightly bluish green to green, commonly with streaks of other colours.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
- Qualification
In chapter 5 of GB/T 16553—2017, the colour entries of Aquamarine, Dioptase, Emerald and other variety clauses also name green or a greenish colour.
- General note
- colour alone is not identity
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-26)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
How the sources relate
- CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 and GB/T 16553—2017
The two entries agree: vivid bluish green to green. Both also mention banding: GB/T 16553—2017 says streaks of other colours are common, and the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book says it is usually banded in two or more tones of green.
Quality factors
Malachite — quality factor (lustre): silky to vitreous
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- untreated
- Does this standard apply
- applies to this entry
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
This material (RI / SG midpoints): 1.782 / 3.67; Closest values: 1Alexandrite 1.749 / 3.73, 2Almandine 1.79 / 3.9, 3Spessartine 1.802 / 3.9, 4Rhodolite 1.755 / 3.9, 5Grossular 1.745 / 3.9
Show the full chart (330 registered materials)
Outside the full chart's range, drawn as triangles at the edge (RI / SG midpoints): Hematite 3.045/5.12, Synthetic Rutile 2.76/4.26, Rutile 2.753/4.23, Synthetic Moissanite 2.67/3.22
Testing and market
Identification leads for filled Malachite: under magnification, the filled areas differ in lustre from the host; under long-wave and short-wave UV, the filled areas often fluoresce differently from the host; infrared spectroscopy can show characteristic bands of the filler; and luminescence imaging equipment such as a UV fluorescence viewer can show where the filler lies. These leads are cited from GB/T 16553—2017, which serves only as a reference for Malachite and does not govern it directly. Synthetic Malachite is uncommon on the market. The CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024-1 calls for particular checks on Malachite for reconstruction, impregnation, wax and synthetics. CIBJO records impregnated Malachite as occurring rarely on the market, and surface-waxed Malachite as occurring occasionally.
The tests the CIBJO laboratory protocol requires for this material, and what each method means, are in the protocol table on the laboratory testing page: §6.1.51.
How far testing can go
Malachite that has undergone filling can be identified by the following features: Under magnification the surface luster of the filled part differs from the host jade; under long- and short-wave UV the filled part mostly fluoresces differently from the host jade; infrared spectra show characteristic absorption bands of the filler; luminescence imaging (UV fluorescence viewer and similar) shows how the filler is distributed.
GB/T 16553—2017
- Treatment state
- treated
- Does this standard apply
- can be followed as a reference only
- Treatment
- filling
Source & check 2026-09-21
- Source
- GB/T 16553—2017 Gems — Testing (GB/T): §5.2.15 (filling) (locator checked 2026-09-21)
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-21
Malachite — synthetic counterpart on the market: Synthetic counterparts of this material are uncommon in the trade
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
For Malachite in trade, the reported frequency of impregnation is “rarely”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- impregnation
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
For Malachite in trade, the reported frequency of surface waxing is “occasionally”.
CIBJO Gemstone Book 2022
- Treatment state
- treated
- Treatment
- surface waxing
Source & check 2026-09-25
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-25
Malachite — what the CIBJO laboratory protocol says to watch for: reconstructed, impregnated, wax, synthetic
CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024
- Treatment state
- any treatment state
Source & check 2026-09-26
- Source
- Fact checked on
- 2026-09-26
Each row's “Source & check” expands to the full source; the date beside it is the fact check date.
Clause-level definitions
Malachite has a direct definition in the CIBJO Gemmological Laboratories Book 2024 under the term Malachite: intense bluish green to green, usually with bands in two or more shades of green, opaque; the cross-check is recorded as “defined directly by CIBJO; also appears in the GB/T annex”. Malachite is also recorded from the IMA mineral list entry, under the term Malachite, with the definition reading Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 and naming status G; the cross-check is against the RRUFF/IMA mineral list master table, using public-domain data.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Term | Clause | Definition | Cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malachite | 7.2.1.137 | Vivid, bluish green to green, usually banded in two or more tones of green, opaque | Defined directly by CIBJO; also present in the GB/T annex. |
| Malachite | IMA Mineral List entry | Malachite Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 G ? | Cross-checked against the RRUFF/IMA master mineral list (public domain data). |
Evidence and sources
Authority basis and clause sources
Sources
Further reading
Related entries and topic cluster
Parent entry and related pages on this site. Rows marked “Planned” are suggested new content and have no link yet.
This table scrolls sideways on narrow screens.
| Page | Content | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing family | Carbonate minerals | Live |
| Treatments recorded for this material | Filled / Fracture-filled | Live |
| Related articles | To be added (placeholder) | Planned |
Who maintains this page
The material facts in the Malachite entry are maintained by the LumaLark wiki and matched one by one to the standard clauses or institutional sources they cite: every fact carries its source (with a clause or page locator) and a check date, so it can be traced back to the original; clause-level definitions also carry a cross-check result. The entry exists so that buyers and sellers can check naming, disclosure and material facts item by item.