When heated, paramelaconite breaks down into a mixture of tenorite and cuprite. Above the water table, chalcocite has been oxidized to malachite, azurite, tenorite, and cuprite. Too much of the copper ingredients results in excesses of copper oxides cuprite and tenorite. As a mineral, it is known as tenorite. The dull grey-black color of tenorite contrasts sharply with the often intergrown blue chrysocolla. Tenorite commonly occurs with chrysocolla and the copper carbonates, azurite and malachite. Tenorite occurs in the weathered or oxidized zone associated with deeper primary copper sulfide orebodies.