In the Middle Ages, parents attached Malachite to their childers's beds to ward off evil spirits and witches. The ancient Egyptians used Malachite in jewelry, and also ground it up to make cosmetics. The mineral was given this name due to its resemblance to the leaves of the Mallow plant. The word malachite might come from the Greek malakos, meaning soft or from the Greek Malache. The name Malachite comes from the Greek word "moloche" which means "mallow".
See the azurite page for a more detailed discussion of the transformation. A gem trade name is used for ornamental stones with this combination called azur-malachite. Often the transformation is incomplete and leaves a blue/green mineral specimen unlike any other. The transformation is fascinating and sometimes leaves a nearly perfect azurite crystal shape that is actually malachite. Pseudo morph means "false shape" in Latin parlance. A pseudo morph is a mineral specimen where the original mineral has been chemically replaced by another mineral, but the outward appearance is still retained.
It frequently pseudo morphs the closely associated mineral azurite. Pseudomalachite means "false malachite" in Latin and is very rare compared to malachite. Pseudomalachite is a copper phosphate that has a massive crystal habit and color that are very similar to malachite's habit and color, although the two minerals have different structures. Malachite has a mineral impostor called pseudomalachite. Malachite is found with many rare copper silicates, halides, phosphates, sulfates and carbonates such as duftite, libethenite, aurichalcite, sphaerocobaltite, kolwezite, shattuckite, Atacamite, chalcophyllite, antlerite, conichalcite, rosasite, chalcosiderite, clinoclase, brochantite, graemite, liroconite, mixite and cornetite, to name a few. So common is malachite that it is associated with almost every secondary copper mineral whether they are carbonate minerals or not. They include such stunningly colorful minerals as dark blue azurite, sparkling black mottramite, baby blue chrysocolla, or rusty red limonite. Such combinations are some of the most colorful mineral assortments in the mineral world. Many beautiful specimens of malachite contain special combinations with other minerals. Another unusual habit is its stalactitic habits such as pictured above. At times appearing as a mat of thin hairs or as a carpet of green velvet. One of its more unique habits is its fine acicular crusts and tufts. Other stones such as coral, mother-of-pearl, azurite, jasper and onyx used in the typically handcrafted jewelry also compliment malachite's green colors.Īlthough its massive carvable forms are well known, its crystalline forms are much rarer and only recently becoming widely available to the average mineral collector.
Instead of competing, the two green stones tend to compliment each other when placed together in the same settings. The stones inlayed in silver make a nice variance from the traditional turquoise jewelry.
Malachite is also popular in jewelry, Native American Southwestern jewelry especially. Although malachite art is not as precious as jade it is hard to argue that it is less beautiful. A skilled craftsman can make the concentric malachite bands follow the curves of a work of art like contours on a rugged terrain. Carvings and figurines of malachite are almost as common. Tumbled stones of malachite are possibly the most popular tumbled stones ever and are sold in literally every rock shop around the world. It forms the banding from subtle changes in the oxidation states of the surrounding pore waters, but the exact mechanism is still not well understood. A popular design of ceramic ware which imitates this banding is named after the mineral malachite. The light and dark green bands are so distinctive that malachite maybe one of the most easily recognized minerals by the general public. Its banded light and dark green designs are one-of-a-kind, and give it a unique ornamental quality unlike that of any other stone. It is named for the Greek word for "mallow", a green herb. Malachite is a famous and very popular semi-precious stone. Uses: As mineral specimens, an important ore of copper, as an ornamental stone, a pigment and for jewelry.ĬLICK HERE To Purchase Kidz Rocks Malachite Products. Chemistry: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2, Copper Carbonate Hydroxide.
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