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As far back as ancient Greece, old Egypt and the Roman Empire, malachite was counted among the favorite gemstones. Due to its intense green color, as well as its striking mineral, it was very early used for making amulets and ornaments. It was also used as a dye - malachite green.
The Chinese made finely crafted figurines from malachite. In the Middle Ages, it was used to decorate books and monarchical insignia. In architecture, malachite cladding of walls and columns, and even whole columns were created. Today, decorations and works of art are produced from this green stone. It is also used in jewelry making as an ornamental stone. The legendary and mysterious mineral was dedicated to goddesses like Harthor in Egypt, Aphrodite in Greece and Venus in Rome. Not surprisingly, the stone is a symbol of hope, beauty, but also sensuality, seduction and curiosity.
The first mention of the mineral named malachite comes from the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder (23-79). In his work Naturalis historia, he describes the green mineral, which owes its name to both its color and its slight hardness. Malache (μαλάχη) means "green" in Greek and refers to the luscious green of the mallow leaves, while malakos (μαλακός) means "soft."
Another name for malachite, used by our western neighbors, is "mountain green" (Berggrün). It takes its name from the color of the mineral and its occurrence in mountain mines. Flemish botanist, chemist and mineralogist Anselmus de Boodt (1550-1623) wrote in his work "Gemmarum et lapidum" under the heading "De malachite, vel molochite." Germani Bergruen vacant - meaning "Germans call it Bergruen".
Properties of malachite
Malachite with its chemical composition as Cu2[(OH)2CO3] is a representative of minerals from the carbonate group. It crystallizes in a single-strand crystallographic system and forms spherical, stalactite or clustered aggregates, and is sometimes found in granular or lamellar form.
The green copper mineral malachite is characterized by a glassy luster, which can turn silky when polished. It is opaque, sometimes translucent and brittle. It has excellent schist in one direction, shell-like hull. In contact with water it can change color, fading of the stone is also caused by sunlight.
With a hardness of 3.3 to 4 on the ten-point Mohs scale, it ranks as a medium-hard mineral. Due to its low hardness, malachite is not formally a gemstone. This title goes to minerals with a Mohs hardness of more than 7. Softer minerals may be referred to as gemstones or jewelry stones. Until recently, the jewelry industry used the term "semi-precious stone," but due to its pejorative overtones it has been replaced by "jewelry stone."
The density of malachite is 3.60 bis 4.05 g/cm3.
Malachite is found in many places around the world - in Russia, the USA, Australia, Africa, and also in Poland in small quantities.
Color of malachite
Characteristic of malachite is its exclusively green color, which can range from light green to blackish green in striped layers. Malachite exhibits strong pleochroism (multicolor), a phenomenon manifested by a change in color depending on the direction of light. Thus, there are specimens of the mineral in very different shades of green. In historical literature, the color of malachite is described almost poetically. Both the aforementioned mineralogist Friedrich Mohs and chemist Joseph Redemt Zappe use terms such as apple green, mountain green, grass green or emerald to describe the subtleties of malachite's coloration.
As a result of its layered structure, many malachites have alternating lighter and darker layers, arranged in a circular, banded or streaked fashion. The scholar Rudolph Augustin Vogel (1724-1774) describes the color of malachite with the words: "pure, or supplied with black, blue and white veins and spots."
The factor that gives malachite its color is copper, the proportion of which is up to 57%, hence the mineral is sometimes called "copper green" in old literature. The scratch, which is the trace of scratching unglazed porcelain with malachite, is light green.
In addition to genuine malachite, fakes can sometimes be found in the trade, with the most common being malachite-colored marble or agate. Malachite is also sometimes transformed into jasper.
Additional confusion is created by such trade terms as red malachite or blue malachite. It should be noted that malachite exists by nature only in shades of green; varieties of this mineral in other colors are not known. Under the name of red malachite is usually hidden jasper, and blue malachite pretends to be mostly azurite.
Importance and uses of malachite
Malachite is a mineral that has been used by humans for a very long time. Powdered malachite was used in ancient times as green eye shadow, as well as pigment for paints. The use of malachite in the form of wall cladding is spectacular. In the palaces of Russian tsars, entire walls were lined with this green mineral. At the Kremlin in Moscow, entire columns are decorated with malachite. There is a malachite hall in the Hermitage, and the St. Petersburg Cathedral has an interior with malachite columns.
Malachite is a favorite material in arts and crafts, from which a variety of objects are made - artistic and utilitarian; you can buy malachite figurines and jewelry, as well as table tops or vases.
Malachite is a sought-after jewelry stone, made into necklaces, pendants, rings or bracelets. There is probably no type of jewelry in which malachite could not be used. Since malachite is a relatively sensitive mineral with low hardness, products involving it should be treated with extreme care. Malachite in jewelry is often coated with either wax or resin to make it resistant to damage. To ensure the durability of the malachite surface, it is necessary to avoid contact of the stone with cleaning agents and cosmetics. Besides, it is advisable to protect malachite products from the sun's rays, as light can cause the mineral to fade.
Malachite is considered by many people to be a healing stone. However, it should be noted that this kind of effect has not been confirmed by clinical studies. It is believed that the legendary malachite shows positive effects on the human psyche:
- alleviates diseases of a psychosomatic nature,
- increases self-confidence,
- improves patience,
- helps to forget negative experiences in the past,
- strengthens consciousness and uncovers suppressed feelings.
As with the spiritual sphere, malachite also has a positive effect on the body:
- beneficially affects the cardiovascular system,
- effectively helps alleviate circulatory disorders,
- helps to purify the body,
- provides relief from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma.
Malachite and zodiac signs
Malachite is an important gemstone for those born under the signs of Capricorn and Aquarius. This mineral helps Capricorns realize their dreams and feelings, and brings them contentment. For Aquarius, it gives clarity of thought and increases self-confidence. However, malachite is also a secondary stone for Taurus, Libra and Scorpio. For Taurus, it makes it easier to cope with changes in situations, and for Libra, it helps during difficult times. With malachite, Scorpio can better cope with its own mistakes.
