. Here is a beautiful polished section of a malachite specimen. Botryoidal malachite forms through diagenetic processes influenced by organic matter and microorganisms. Its concentric banding results from chemical oscillation reactions that occur during the breakdown of biogenic material.
Papineau, D. (2020) Chemically oscillating reactions in the formation of botryoidal malachite. American Mineralogist De Putter, T., Mees, F., & Dewaele, S. (2010). Malachite, an indicator of major Pliocene Cu remobilization in a karstic environment (Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo). Journal of African Earth Sciences, 58, 1–18.105: 447–454. |