malachite

malachite
/mal"euh kuyt'/, n.
1. a green mineral, basic copper carbonate, Cu2CO3(OH)2, an ore of copper, used for making ornamental articles.
2. a ceramic ware made in imitation of this.
[1350-1400; < Gk malách(e) MALLOW + -ITE1; r. ME melochites < MF melochite, repr. L molochitis < Gk molochîtis, deriv. of molóche, var. of MALÁCHE]

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Widespread carbonate mineral of copper, a hydrous copper carbonate, Cu2CO3(OH)2.

Because of its distinctive, bright green colour and its presence in the weathered zone of nearly all copper deposits, malachite serves as a prospecting guide. It is found in Siberia, France, Namibia, and Arizona. Malachite has been used as an ornamental stone and as a gemstone.

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 a minor ore but a widespread mineral of copper, basic copper carbonate, Cu2CO3(OH)2. Because of its distinctive bright green colour and its presence in the weathered zone of nearly all copper deposits, malachite serves as a prospecting guide for that metal. Notable occurrences are Nizhne-Tagilsk, Siberia; Chessy, Fr.; Tsumeb, Namibia; and Bisbee, Ariz., U.S. Malachite has been used as an ornamental stone and as a gemstone. It is more abundant and widespread than azurite, with which it is usually found. For detailed physical properties, see carbonate mineral (table).

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • malachite — [ malaʃit; malakit ] n. f. • 1685; melochite XIIe; lat. molochitis, mot gr., de molokhê ou malakhê « mauve » ♦ Carbonate de cuivre naturel, pierre d un beau vert diapré utilisée dans la fabrication d objets d art. Écritoire en malachite. ●… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Malachite — Mal a*chite, n. [Fr. Gr. mala chh a mallow, from its resembling the green color of the leaf of mallows: cf. F. malachite. Cf. {Mallow}.] (Min.) Native hydrous carbonate of copper, usually occurring in green mammillary masses with concentric… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • malachite — [mal′ə kīt΄] n. [ME melochites < L molochites < Gr molochitēs, a stone (? malachite) < malachē, molochē, mallow (its color is like that of mallow leaves): < ? Heb malluaḥ, a lettuce like plant > L malva,MALLOW] a bright green,… …   English World dictionary

  • malachite — common green ore of copper, late 14c., from French, ultimately from Gk. malachitis (lithos) mallow (stone), from malakhe mallow (see MALLOW (Cf. mallow) (n.)); the mineral traditionally so called from resemblance of its color to that of the… …   Etymology dictionary

  • malachite — ► NOUN ▪ a bright green copper containing mineral. ORIGIN Old French melochite, from Greek malakh mallow …   English terms dictionary

  • Malachite — For other uses, see Malachite (disambiguation). Malachite Malachite from the Congo General Category Carbonate mineral …   Wikipedia

  • Malachite — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Malachite (homonymie). Malachite Catégorie V : carbonates et nitrates[1] …   Wikipédia en Français

  • MALACHITE — s. f. (On prononce Malakite .) Pierre opaque, mamelonnée et d un beau vert, qui est susceptible de poli. La malachite est un minerai de cuivre …   Dictionnaire de l'Academie Francaise, 7eme edition (1835)

  • malachite —    A green mineral used in jewelry, intarsia, and as a pigment. Illustrated are some polished pieces, mared by malachite s typical multigreen patterning, and about half of their actual size. Chemically it is green copper carbonate, CuCO3 Cu(OH)2 …   Glossary of Art Terms

  • malachite — malachitas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Mineralas. formulė Cu₂[(OH)₂|CO₃] atitikmenys: angl. malachite rus. малахит …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

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