A species of Minerals, Also known as Ehlite, Phosphate of Copper, Rhenite
Pseudomalachite is a phosphate of copper with hydroxyl, named from the Greek for “false” and “malachite”, because of its similarity in appearance to the carbonate mineral malachite, Cu2(CO3)(OH)2. Both are green coloured secondary minerals found in oxidised zones of copper deposits, often associated with each other. Pseudomalachite is polymorphous with reichenbachite and ludjibaite. It was discovered in 1813. Prior to 1950 it was thought that dihydrite, lunnite, ehlite, tagilite and prasin were separate mineral species, but Berry analysed specimens labelled with these names from several museums, and found that they were in fact pseudomalachite. The old names are no longer recognised by the IMA.
Hardness:
4 - 4.5
Density:
3.95 g/cm³
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Properties
Characteristics
Cultural
Common Questions
General Info About Pseudomalachite
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Physical Properties of Pseudomalachite
Colors
Blue-green, green, dark green, green-black; green to bluish green in transmitted light.
Streak
Blue-green
Hardness
4 - 4.5 , Soft
Density
3.95 g/cm³, Obviously Heavy Weight
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Chemical Properties of Pseudomalachite
Formula
Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
Elements listed
Cu, H, O, P
Characteristics of Pseudomalachite
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Composition of Pseudomalachite
The copper ions are co-ordinated by six oxygen ions to form distorted octahedra. These octahedra are linked by sharing edges to form two distinct types of infinite chains, parallel to b. The chains are linked alternately, again by sharing octahedral edges, to form sheets parallel to the bc plane. Distorted phosphate tetrahedra link the sheets, and there is some doubt about the exact position of the hydrogen ions in the structure.
Cultural Significance of Pseudomalachite
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Distribution of Pseudomalachite
Pseudomalachite has been reported from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Congo, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, UK, US and Zambia.
Common Questions People Also Ask
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