The MALACHITE stone

Malachite jewellery by Itsi Bitsi

  

Malachite Meaning

Malachite stone derives its name from the Greek word "mallow" meaning, a green herb. Malachite is named so due to its high degree of resemblance to the 'Mallow plant' leaves. Its banded light and dark green designs are one-of-a-kind, and gives malachite stone a unique ornamental quality. Malachite stone beads are sometimes coated with colorless wax, oil, or hardening agents to increase its durability and enhance its appearance.

Malachite History

Malachite stone has historical importance attached to it. Malachite history registers its usage for preparing green paints in the early civilizations. In jewelry form it was worn by ancient Egyptians around 4000 BC back thinking that it could protect the wearer from black magic and sorcery. Even in ancient Greece the amulets were made from malachite stone beads were worn by children. Powder form of the gemstone was popular as an eye shadow. It was also extensively used for inlay carving works in churches and cathedrals. Thus, malachite history has convincing uses in beauty products, colors as well as for jewelry and art works.

Malachite Occurrence & Structure

Malachite stone is an opaque stone having bands of light to very dark green color. Malachite's fine acicular crusts and tufts are very popular that appear as a mat of thin hairs or as a carpet of green velvet. Malachite stone is found with many rare copper silicates, halides, phosphates, sulfates and carbonates such as duftite, libethenite, aurichalcite, sphaerocobaltite, kolwezite, shattuckite, atacamite, mixite, cornetite and much more.

Malachite is basically a copper carbonate mineral. It is often found with azurite, calcite and goethe. It is usually dull and does not have a luster to it, but is quite smooth to touch in the crystal form. malachite is a very fragile stone that needs special care. It is majorly found in the regions of Shaba, Congo; Tsumeb, Nambia; Ural mountains, Russia; Mexico; several sites in Australia; England and several localities in the Southwestern United States especially in Arizona, USA.