Azurite vs. Malachite — What's the Difference?

Azurite is a soft, deep-blue copper mineral produced by weathering of copper ore deposits. During the early 19th century, it was also known as chessylite, after the type locality at Chessy-les-Mines near Lyon, France.

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 botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses, in fractures and deep, underground spaces, where the water table and hydrothermal fluids provide the means for chemical precipitation.

An azure blue vitreous mineral of basic copper carbonate, Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2, used as a copper ore and as a gemstone.

A light to dark green carbonate mineral, Cu2CO3(OH)2, used as a source of copper and for ornamental purposes.

(mineral) A blue vitreous mineral; a basic copper carbonate, with the chemical formula Cu²⁺₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂.

(mineral) A bright green mineral, a basic copper carbonate, Cu₂CO₃(OH)₂; one of the principal ores of copper.

Blue carbonate of copper; blue malachite.

A mild green colour, like that of the mineral.

Of a colour ranging from olive-taupe to a mild to deeply-rich (at times seemingly translucent) green, like that of the mineral which is present on oxidized copper.

Native hydrous carbonate of copper, usually occurring in green mammillary masses with concentric fibrous structure.

A green mineral used as an ore of copper and for making ornamental objects