Malachite Gemstone Information
The malachite gemstone is a favorite for small jewelry designers and jewelry wearers due to its rich and captivating coloring. Additionally, malachite is reasonably available, ensuring that those who want the stone can easily find it.
If you want to learn more about the malachite gem, including its properties, history, and more, here’s everything you need to know.
Malachite Properties
Malachite isn’t technically a gemstone. Instead, it’s a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral that typically forms above copper deposits.
One of the standout benefits of malachite is that its color tends to hold true over time. While some gemstones can actually fade, malachite’s hue will look essentially the same, even as decades or centuries pass.
Overall, malachite is fairly soft, though not so much so that it can easily be scratched through normal wear. This makes it excellent for polishing and carving, as well as for use in high-contact potential jewelry, like rings and bracelets.
However, with a hard impact, malachite can scratch. Additionally, it can be harmed by weak acids and tends to be heat sensitive. As a result, those who wear malachite jewelry should be cautious about wearing rings and bracelets while participating in certain activities.
Malachite Stone Color
Malachite’s color is always striking. Typically, the bulk of the stone is a strong green, thanks to the presence of copper. In many cases, the coloring is so distinct that identifying malachite by sight is incredibly easy, as few other stones even come close to it in appearance.
Additionally, most jewelry-quality pieces also feature brilliant stripes, ranging from light mint green to vibrant Kelly green to deep hunter green. In some cases, the bands can appear nearly black, though they are still technically green.
Depending on the piece and how the malachite gemstone is cut, the bands can look practically parallel. However, you may also see some patterns that exhibit a raindrop effect, which can be quite striking as well.
The History of Malachite
Malachite has an interesting history. It was one of the earliest used ores to create copper metal, giving it a unique place historically. However, since malachite is typically found in smaller quantities than some alternative ores, it doesn’t usually serve this purpose anymore.
Plus, other malachite uses are more valuable on the market. Malachite has a long-standing history as a gemstone in jewelry and is also used in ornamental designs.
Since powdering malachite is pretty simple, it has also been used as a coloring agent and pigment for many millennia. There are examples of malachite pigments in use in 15th-century European paintings and even Egyptian tombs. Today, some paint manufacturers continue to create paint using malachite pigments, allowing painters who focus on historical techniques or restorations to get products that align with their needs.
Where is Malachite Found?
By Alan Simkins, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
In many cases, malachite is found within limestone deposits, as that environment is favorable for its creation. It can also be discovered as stalactites deep in caves or other underground cavities. Some of the earliest discovered sources of malachite were in Egypt and Israel, where malachite has been mined for more than 4,000 years.
However, there have also been large malachite deposits elsewhere. For example, it was mined in Russia’s Ural Mountains, particularly during the 1800s
Today, the most actively mined deposits are in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. There are also smaller but notable sources in Arizona, United States, Australia, and France.
Malachite Jewelry
Malachite jewelry is often readily available. While you may not find it frequently in chain jewelry stores, it’s a favorite among smaller designers, making pieces pretty simple to track down.
If you’re looking for a malachite necklace, you typically have two choices available. Malachite beads may be used to create strands, or you might come across a lovely malachite pendant featuring a polished cabochon.
Malachite earrings or rings usually involve cabochons, as well. Typically, malachite isn’t faceted since it’s opaque, making the cabochon the favored option. However, you may also find carved malachite, as it can be shaped relatively easily.
Shop our Malachite Gemstone Jewelry Collection
Malachite Meaning
The malachite stone meaning can vary depending on the belief system. When it comes to metaphysical properties, some think that malachite offers the wearer or possessor protection against negative energy and opens the heart up to love. At times, it’s also connected with change, beneficial risk-taking, and breaking habits that no longer serve the person.
Others feel that the malachite gemstone meaning aligns with the heart chakra. The heart chakra color is green, so malachite would be a match in that regard.
As for malachite healing properties, it’s important to understand that gemstones are never a substitute for proper medical care. While there’s usually no harm in wearing or holding malachite stones, it isn’t proven to treat or prevent any health condition, so don’t use malachite in place of seeing a doctor if you are experiencing a medical issue.
Stones Similar to Malachite
Generally, malachite gems are fairly distinct. However, some other stones share similar coloring and, occasionally, patterning.
The bands you find in malachite resemble those you find in agate, so some green agate pieces may slightly resemble malachite. However, agate tends to be more transparent, which can be a giveaway that it isn’t a malachite stone.
When it comes to coloring alone, green jade can be similar. However, jade lacks the characteristic bands you usually find in malachite. Instead, jade tends to have a slightly mottled appearance. If it has banding, it usually isn’t as clean, crisp, or uniform as you find in malachite gemstones.
Maw-sit-sit also has a similar green coloring, though it lacks the banding. The same goes for some pieces of chrysoprase, serpentine, and green turquoise.
Aventurine is another green stone that’s base hue can be similar to malachite. However, it tends to be more crystal-like. It can also exhibit aventurescence, a unique shimmering effect that you won’t find in malachite.
It’s also important to note that there are synthetic malachite stones. Many of these stand out, as the coloring or banding doesn’t closely align with what genuine malachite offers. However, some higher-quality replicas may fool novices, though most stone experts can tell the difference with a fairly quick glance at the stone.