MALACHITE
MALACHITE
Malachite is a basic green copper carbonate mineral. It derives its name from the Greek word MALACHE which means "mallow", from its resemblance to the soft green leaves of the mallow plant.
Malachite has a hardness of only 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. It has a perfect cleavage and its transparency is translucent to opaque. Its luster is weak glass-like but not shiny. However, when cut and polished, Malachite has a silky luster. Since malachite is fairly soft, it is often coated with resin or wax.
Malachite is used both as a source of copper and as a gemstone. It is often found with azurite in copper mines. Malachite, the gemstone, often comes in light green to dark green banded colors. These concentric bands are what identifies Malachite.
Malachite was made into beautiful cameo brooch and pendants, and lovely intaglio jewelry by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and Europeans of the Victorian Era. They also used it as a pigment for eye shadows and green paint. One famous example where Malachite was used for decorative purposes is the Malachite Room, at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, Russia. This luxurious Malachite Room has massive decorative columns, vases and fireplace panels made from malachite.
Malachite is mined in Russia, Zaire, Australia, Namibia Zimbabwe and Arizona.
“Peacock’s Eye” malachite, or the malachite that comes with eye-like rings is the most loved and sought after. In jewelry, it is the stripes that are often exhibited.
Malachites comes also with a mixture of azurite which is known as Azure-Malachite; it also comes as a mixture of turquoise and chrysocolla and is known as the Eilat stone. This particular stone comes from Israel.
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans believed that malachite had the power to protect you from the Evil Eye of Envy. Therefore, they made it into amulets. In Europe during the Middle-Ages parents would put malachite jewelry on their children to protect them from witches and black magic (which is the same as the Evil Eye). It was also believed that if the malachite suddenly breaks off, it was a warning from malachite of pending danger. It was believed that malachite could save the wearer from black magic and demonic temptation. It was also thought to mirror the feelings of the wearer; if the wearer was feeling happy, you could see this happiness mirrored in the stone.
Malachite boosts our physical energies, makes our work load easier, reduces pain at the joints, alleviates menstrual blood disorders, detox our livers, helps us with our breathing, strengthens our immune system, helps with food digestion and stimulates blood circulation in our bodies. It also encourages us to become successful in our business.
Malachite is also known as the Sleep Stone, because it is said that this stone has the power to put you to sleep and give you a good night’s rest.
The dark green malachite is also known as the Kidney Gemstone because the upper side of the stone looks like a human kidney. Moreover, it is believed that the Kidney Gemstone helps to cure any type of kidney related illnesses.
Malachite is the symbol of the Child, of the eternal Spring, of the eternal return, of the Spring equinox and the coming of the spiritual man.
Due to its softness, malachite can easily be scratched. Store malachite away from other harder gemstones. It is also sensitive to heat, sweat and acid. To cleanse your Malachite, it is recommended to use soapy water and a soft cloth. Try not to leave any soapy residue in the malachite.
Malachite is a basic green copper carbonate mineral. It derives its name from the Greek word MALACHE which means "mallow", from its resemblance to the soft green leaves of the mallow plant.
Malachite has a hardness of only 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. It has a perfect cleavage and its transparency is translucent to opaque. Its luster is weak glass-like but not shiny. However, when cut and polished, Malachite has a silky luster. Since malachite is fairly soft, it is often coated with resin or wax.
Malachite is used both as a source of copper and as a gemstone. It is often found with azurite in copper mines. Malachite, the gemstone, often comes in light green to dark green banded colors. These concentric bands are what identifies Malachite.
Malachite was made into beautiful cameo brooch and pendants, and lovely intaglio jewelry by the ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and Europeans of the Victorian Era. They also used it as a pigment for eye shadows and green paint. One famous example where Malachite was used for decorative purposes is the Malachite Room, at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, Russia. This luxurious Malachite Room has massive decorative columns, vases and fireplace panels made from malachite.
Malachite is mined in Russia, Zaire, Australia, Namibia Zimbabwe and Arizona.
“Peacock’s Eye” malachite, or the malachite that comes with eye-like rings is the most loved and sought after. In jewelry, it is the stripes that are often exhibited.
Malachites comes also with a mixture of azurite which is known as Azure-Malachite; it also comes as a mixture of turquoise and chrysocolla and is known as the Eilat stone. This particular stone comes from Israel.
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans believed that malachite had the power to protect you from the Evil Eye of Envy. Therefore, they made it into amulets. In Europe during the Middle-Ages parents would put malachite jewelry on their children to protect them from witches and black magic (which is the same as the Evil Eye). It was also believed that if the malachite suddenly breaks off, it was a warning from malachite of pending danger. It was believed that malachite could save the wearer from black magic and demonic temptation. It was also thought to mirror the feelings of the wearer; if the wearer was feeling happy, you could see this happiness mirrored in the stone.
Malachite boosts our physical energies, makes our work load easier, reduces pain at the joints, alleviates menstrual blood disorders, detox our livers, helps us with our breathing, strengthens our immune system, helps with food digestion and stimulates blood circulation in our bodies. It also encourages us to become successful in our business.
Malachite is also known as the Sleep Stone, because it is said that this stone has the power to put you to sleep and give you a good night’s rest.
The dark green malachite is also known as the Kidney Gemstone because the upper side of the stone looks like a human kidney. Moreover, it is believed that the Kidney Gemstone helps to cure any type of kidney related illnesses.
Malachite is the symbol of the Child, of the eternal Spring, of the eternal return, of the Spring equinox and the coming of the spiritual man.
Due to its softness, malachite can easily be scratched. Store malachite away from other harder gemstones. It is also sensitive to heat, sweat and acid. To cleanse your Malachite, it is recommended to use soapy water and a soft cloth. Try not to leave any soapy residue in the malachite.