This is the first stone I have been attracted to recently. It is a beautiful green. I really love the flow and colour of these crystals. The stone I currently have is basically a tumbled stone with traces of Chrysocolla (I will do my next blog entry on this) in between, it was sourced from the Congo in Africa. It almost looks like the stones shown in the next picture.
Malachite is a carbonate mineral, copper (2) carbonate hydroxide : Cu2CO3(OH)2. Malachite often results from weathering of copper ores. The stone’s name derives (via Latin and French) from Greek molochitis, “mallow-green stone”, from molochē, variant of malachē, “mallow”.
Malachite was used as a mineral pigment in green paints from antiquity until about 1800. The pigment is moderately lightfast, very sensitive to acids and varying in colour. It is also used for decorative purposes, such as in the Malachite Room in the Hermitage museum, which features a huge malachite vase (see picture below).
Large quantities of malachite have been mined in the Ural mountains (a mountain range that runs roughly north and south through western Russia). It is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Tsumeb, Namibia; Ural mountains, Russia; Mexico; Broken Hill, New South Wales; England; Lyon; and in the Southwestern United States especially in Arizona at Bisbee and Morenci.
In Israel, malachite is extensively mined at Timna, often called King Solomon’s Mines. Archeological evidence indicates that the mineral has been mined and smelted at the site for over 3,000 years. Most of Timna’s current production is also smelted, but the finest pieces are worked into silver jewelry.
Malachite include such stunningly colorful minerals as dark blue azurite, sparkling black mottramite, baby blue chrysocolla, or rusty red limonite. Malachite has a mineral impostor called pseudomalachite. 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. Pseudomalachite means “false malachite” in latin and is very rare compared to malachite.
Malachite is an impostor of its own. It frequently pseudomorphs the closely associated mineral azurite. A pseudomorph is a mineral specimen where the original mineral has been chemically replaced by another mineral, but the outward appearance is still retained. Pseudomorph means “false shape” in latin. The transformation is fascinating and sometimes leaves a nearly perfect azurite crystal shape that is actually malachite.
According to Judy Hall’s The Crystal Bible Malachite is :
- It is toxic and should only be used in its polished form (Avoid breathing its dust)
- It amplifies both positive and negative energies
- Important protection stone
- Absorbs negative energies and pollutants
- It should be cleansed by placing it on a quartz cluster in the sun (don’t use salt as it will damage the surface)
- It guards against all kinds of radiation
- Clears and activates the chakras and attunes to spiritual guidance (placed on the third eye it activates visualization and psychic vision, on the heart it brings balance and harmony, on the solar plexus it facilitates deep emotional healing)
- Versatile healing stone – it aligns DNA and cellular structure and enhances the immune system
- Can be used for scrying or to access other inner and outer worlds
- Combined with Chrysocolla (such as mine) it will have a very high healing vibration. It symbolizes wholeness and peace and can gently restore equilibrium if placed on an area of imbalance. If one stone is placed on the third eye and another on the solar plexus then mind, body and emotions are balanced.
Another interesting site is this one that claims to have found human bones that are made from Malachite. It is generally considered a hoax though as photos are all the evidence that has so far came to light.
You can read more at : Wikipedia, Mineral Galleries and Mindat
What a fantastic post!
I love malachite as much as you do! These are great pictures–I’m literally drooling over them.
Margot
margotmystic@wordpress.com
Hi Margot,
Thanks for the kind words. I also love the beauty of this crystal. I can’t take credit for the wonderful pictures though, as I pretty much source them from across the internet.
Regards
André
I’m just here waiting for your next wonderful entry!
Margot
hi
does any1 no wat malachite makes when it is smelted
I am a bit late following this blog. But if we think time is just a tool, and this blog will be here and useful at any moment one searches for aid and information, then I may not be so late 🙂
This is a great blog!
I just wanted to add to it…..Malachite also promotes leadership in work place and during engagements.
Additionally, it can help connect with past lives if placed over the bed or under the pillow through dreams….I had fairly intense dreams with this stone. Pretty amazing.
This is very up-to-date information. I think I’ll share it on Twitter.