PSEUDOMALACHITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Anhydrous phosphates
    Crystal system : Monoclinic
    Chemistry : Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4
    Rarity : Uncommon

Pseudomalachite is a secondary phosphate found mainly in the oxidation zone of copper deposits. It is an uncommon mineral, which is most often associated with chrysocolla, malachite and libethenite. Its name comes from the Greek pseudês (false) and malachite, because it looks very similar. Pseudomalachite most often appears in shiny, kidney-shaped or botryoidal concretionary masses, sometimes weighing several kilos, often alternating with bands of malachite. More rarely, pseudomalachite forms globules or small prismatic crystals of a few millimeters, with unclear faces. It is an accessory copper ore and can also be cut into a cabochon for jewelry.


Main photo : Pseudomalachite de Rainer mining field, Podlipa, Slovaquie © Martin Stevko

Pseudomalachite & libethenite from Miguel Vacas Mine, Portugal
Pseudomalachite from Clegg Mine, Sanford, North Carolina, USA © Jason B. Smith
Pseudomalachite from Mociços Mine, Portugal © Pedro Alves
Pseudomalachite from Valcroze, Gard, France © Pascal Chollet

Pseudomalachite in the World

The best known specimens of pseudomalachite are decimetric concretionary masses from the exhausted deposits of Mednorudiansk and Bogoslovsk, near Nizhny Tagil (Urals, Russia), and magnificent spherules exceeding 10 cm in diameter extracted from the copper mines of Kambove (Kakanda and M'sesa) in Congolese Katanga. Splendid multicentimeter fibroradiated masses as well as millimeter crystals come from Rheinbreitbach (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany). Other spectacular occurrences exist in Australia (Rum Jungle) and Slovakia (Lubietova).

Pseudomalachite in France

In France, pseudomalachite is present in the hematite mine of Alban-le-Fraysse (Tarn) associated with malachite and native copper. It is also reported in Chessy (Rhône), Najac (Aveyron), Montebras (Creuse), Ste-Marie-aux-Mines (Haut-Rhin), Valcroze (Gard), etc...

Twinning

No twins known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes listed for this mineral species, but very easy to confuse with malachite.


Hardness : 4 to 4.5
Density : 3.6 to 4.34
Fracture : Irregular to conchoidal
Streak : Blue-green

TP : Translucent
RI : 1.791 to 1.867
Birefringence : 0.076
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Acids

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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