Malachite

==Health and environmental concerns==
Mining for malachite for ornamental or copper ore purposes involves [[open-pit mining]] or [[underground mining]] depending on the grade of the ore deposits.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Malachite|url=http://www.mine-engineer.com/mining/mineral/malachite.htm#:~:text=The%20distinctive%20bright-green%20hydrous,of%20other%20copper%20ore%20minerals.&text=Ores%20are%20removed%20either%20by%20open-pit%20or%20by%20underground%20mining.|access-date=2021-03-25|website=www.mine-engineer.com}}</ref> Open-pit and underground mining practices can cause [[environmental degradation]] through [[Habitat destruction|habitat]] and [[biodiversity loss]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Monjezi|first1=M.|last2=Shahriar|first2=K.|last3=Dehghani|first3=H.|last4=Samimi Namin|first4=F.|date=2009-07-01|title=Environmental impact assessment of open pit mining in Iran|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1509-4|journal=Environmental Geology|language=en|volume=58|issue=1|pages=205–216|doi=10.1007/s00254-008-1509-4|bibcode=2009EnGeo..58..205M|s2cid=128616763|issn=1432-0495}}</ref><ref name="Salomons-1995">{{Cite journal|last=Salomons|first=W.|date=1995-01-01|title=Environmental impact of metals derived from mining activities: Processes, predictions, prevention|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2F0375-6742%2894%2900039-E|journal=Journal of Geochemical Exploration|series=Heavy Metal Aspects of Mining Pollution and Its Remediation|language=en|volume=52|issue=1|pages=5–23|doi=10.1016/0375-6742(94)00039-E|bibcode=1995JCExp..52....5S |issn=0375-6742}}</ref> [[Acid mine drainage]] can contaminate water and food sources to negatively impact human health if improperly managed or if leaks from [[Tailings|tailing ponds]] occur.<ref name="Salomons-1995"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Environmental Impact of Sulfuric Acid Leaching|url=http://www.savethesantacruzaquifer.info/Sulfuric%20Acid%20Impact.htm|access-date=2021-03-25|website=www.savethesantacruzaquifer.info}}</ref> The risk of health and environmental impacts of both traditional metallurgy and newer methods of hydrometallurgy are both significant,<ref name="Salomons-1995"/> however, water conservation and waste management practices for hydrometallurgy processes for ore extraction, such as for malachite, are stricter and relatively more sustainable.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Conard|first=Bruce R.|date=1992-06-01|title=The role of hydrometallurgy in achieving sustainable development|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2F0304-386X%2892%2990074-A|journal=Hydrometallurgy|series=Hydrometallurgy, Theory and Practice Proceedings of the Ernest Peters International Symposium. Part B|language=en|volume=30|issue=1|pages=1–28|doi=10.1016/0304-386X(92)90074-A|bibcode=1992HydMe..30....1C |issn=0304-386X}}</ref> New research is also being conducted on better alternatives to methods such as sulfuric acid leaching which has high environmental impacts, even under hydrometallurgy regulation standards and innovation.<ref name="Shabani-2012"/>