Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral, with the formula Cu2CO3(OH)2. This opaque, green banded mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidally, fibrous, or stalagmite masses, in fractures and spaces, deep underground, where the water table and hydrothermal fluids provide the means for chemical precipitation. Individual crystals are rare but do occur as slender to acicular prisms. Pseudo morphs after more tabular or blocky azurite crystals also occur. Typical malachite is laminated and whether or not microbes intervene in its formation is unknown.
The mineral was given this name due to its resemblance to the leaves of the Mallow plant.