Characteristics of Malachite:

Chemical Name: Copper carbonate

Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2

Colors: Bright green

Structure: Monoclinic

Hardness: 3.5-4

Specific Gravity: 3.2-4.1

Refractive Index: 1.65-1.91

Lustre: Adamantine to silky

Streak: Pale green

Locations: DR Congo, Australia, Morocco, USA, France

 

What is Malachite? 

Malachite powder was used as eyeshadow, pigment for wall painting, and in glazes and colored glasses in ancient Egypt around 5,000 years ago. It was also a major source of copper, as it still is. The ancient Greeks used it in children’s amulets, the Roman to ward off the evil eye, and the Chinese to decorate vases. In the 19^th century, huge quantities were mined in the Ural Mountains, Russia, and an entire cathedral was decorated with it. today, it is an important gemstone and ornamental mineral, used in cabochons, polished slabs, and carvings.