Melaconite is the earthy, powdery variety of tenorite, typically found as a black crust or soot-like deposit on copper ores. It forms in the supergene oxidized zones of copper-bearing deposits and is frequently associated with other secondary copper minerals like malachite and cuprite.
Is this melaconite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch melaconite with a known reference. Melaconite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Melaconite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Melaconite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, powdery, or earthy coatings.
Often confused with
Melaconite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Pyrolusite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3); luster reads dull on Melaconite and metallic on Pyrolusite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads dull on Melaconite and metallic on Tenorite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Melaconite leaves black, Chalcocite leaves lead-gray to black; luster reads dull on Melaconite and metallic on Chalcocite.
Often found alongside melaconite
Minerals reported to co-occur with melaconite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuO
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 6.4-6.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Powdery, Or Earthy Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Copper
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Copper Deposits
- Typical price
- $5-30 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find melaconite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Bisbee, Arizona, USA
- Chuquicamata, Chile
- Siegen, Germany
- Chessy-les-Mines, France
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of copper deposits country — that is the host setting where melaconite typically forms. If you start seeing malachite, azurite, cuprite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, powdery, or earthy coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Washington — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find melaconite on the map
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