Malaquita Estalagmita
Malaquita is a mineral with formula Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from Mina Shilu Cu-Fe, Yangchun, Yangjiang, Guangdong, China.
Description
Stalactitic malachite column of intense green colour and velvety surface, with several smaller columns attached to the main one. The rounded terminations show concentric radial structures and small central openings. No visible fractures or repairs.
About Malaquita
Malachite is a basic copper carbonate (Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂), made up of copper, carbonate and hydroxyl groups. At Shilu, water flowed through cavities in limestone karst, carrying copper dissolved from earlier minerals. As it dripped from the ceiling, the dissolved copper, carbonate and hydroxyl groups could combine and precipitate as malachite crystals. This specimen appears to have grown in that way, as a stalactite, with small internal channels carrying water while successive mineral layers thickened the columns and formed concentric rings. Its tiny fibrous crystals give it a velvety texture and silky lustre.
About the locality
This is one of China’s most world-renowned deposits thanks to its incredible malachite stalactites. Worked mainly for copper and iron, it hit its peak in the 1970s as a massive open-pit mine before shutting down in 1998. Around 2005–2006, copper mining briefly resumed in the area, bringing spectacular malachite stalactites to light—many carefully recovered by hand by local miners. Today, the main pit sits flooded and inactive, yet magnificent specimens still surface on the market, either held back in old stashes for years or pulled from small-scale artisanal diggings nearby.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0710
- Composition
- Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)₂
- Name
- Malaquita
- Variety
- Estalagmita
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Estélites
- Mine
- Mina Shilu Cu-Fe
- District / Municipality
- Yangchun
- Province
- Yangjiang
- Region
- Guangdong
- Country
- China
- Size (cm)
- 12 x 3 x 2
- Weight
- 97.2 g
- Etymology
- From the Greek "malachē" (mallow), in allusion to the green colour of the plant’s leaves.
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Andersonita — España
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul (Toralina)) — España
- Aragonito — Italia
- Aragonito — España
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul) — Italia