Malachite

HISTORY AND MYTH

Often found in massive form this beautiful mineral has been treasured for it’s ornamental qualities for thousands of years and was notably sourced from the Ural Mountains in Russia. The name Malachite is derived from the Greek word ‘Malakhe’ or marshmallow plant because of the startling green colour. It was popular for ornamental use as far back as the ancient Egyptians who used it in both statues and adornments. They also ground it to a powder and, having mixed it with water, painted it on their eye lids. It was also used as a pigment for paint in Egyptian tomb paintings and much later in European art during the 15th century. The Romans used it to fashion amulets where it was known as Peacock stone and dedicated to the Goddess Juno. She was worshipped as a protector from the perils of natural disasters. There is evidence that Malachite was mined on the Sinai Peninsula as early as 4000 B C. Large deposits also existed in the Ural Mountains and Malachite was used to decorate the luxurious palaces of the Tsars. These showy specimens of fibrous crystals display from all sides and come from Zaire.

In metaphysical terms malachite is considered a stone of transformation and balance, assisting in ones spiritual journey. It is allegedly capable of stimulating ones intuition and insight whilst helping in recognizing and clearing past negative influences and experiences. It allows for insight into any emotional factors that may be manifesting as physical symptoms. It is also said to help unlock the meaning of dreams. Traditionally it was worn as a stone of protection.

STONE QUALITIES

Malachite’s banded light and dark green designs are one-of-a-kind, and give it a unique ornamental quality unlike that of any other stone. The light and dark green bands are so distinctive that malachite maybe one of the most easily recognized minerals by the general public.

Malachite is a copper bearing mineral, with as much as 58% copper content. The distinctive bright-green hydrous CARBONATE MINERAL malachite is a common but minor ore of copper. It is usually found in copper deposits associated with LIMESTONE, occurring with AZURITE as the weathering product of other copper ore minerals.

SOURCE

Large quantities of malachite have been mined in the Urals. It is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tsumeb, Namibia, Russia, Mexica, New South Wales. England and in the South Western US.

THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MALACHITE

Colour is banded light and dark green or (if crystalline), just dark green.

Luster is dull in massive forms and silky as crystals.

Transparency is opaque in massive form and translucent in crystalline forms.

Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m.

Crystal Habits in its massive forms are botryoidal, stalactitic or globular. Crystals are acicular or fibrous and form in tufts and encrustations. Frequently found as pseudomorphs of azurite.

Cleavage is good in one direction but rarely seen.

Fracture is conchoidal to splintery.

Hardness is 3.5-4.

Specific Gravity is 3.9+ (slightly heavy).

Streak is green.

Other Characteristics: Weakly effervesces in acid.

USING MALACHITE IN JEWELLERY

Tumbled stones of malachite are possibly the most popular tumbled stones ever and are sold in rock shops around the world. Carvings and figurines of malachite are almost as common.

Malachite is also popular in jewellery, Native American South western jewellery especially. The stones inlayed in silver make a nice variance from the traditional turquoise jewellery. Instead of competing, the two green stones tend to compliment each other when placed together in the same settings. Other stones such as coral, mother-of-pearl, azurite, jasper and onyx used in the typically handcrafted jewellery also compliment malachite’s green colours.

Although its massive carvable forms are well known, its crystalline forms are much rarer and only recently becoming widely available to the average mineral collector.

Many beautiful specimens of malachite contain special combinations with other minerals. Such combinations are some of the most colourful mineral assortments in the mineral world. They include such stunningly colourful minerals as dark blue azurite. So common is malachite that it is associated with almost every secondary copper mineral whether they are carbonate minerals or not.