All About the Malachite Stone
Malachite isn’t only a type of gemstone, but also a source of copper. Malachite stones are very unique as they come in such varying shades of green, and very often have distinctive concentric bands. The light and green shades make this stone very unique and give a real one of a kind look making it look much more expensive than it is. The Malachite is found in all sorts of different shades from light green to dark green and is unmistakable as it is not like any other gemstone. The concentric band is what makes it stand out from the other stones, some have eyes like shapes and designs and are known as the Peacocks eye. Malachite is a popular stone for making ornaments and has also been used to make beads, statues as well as beautiful pieces of jewellery.
Where Would You Find The Malachite Stone?
Typically the malachite stone is found wherever n the world you would find copper. It was in Russia that the biggest ever malachite stone source was found, with over 20 tonnes discovered. However, you are more likely to find it in Zaire, Arizona, Australia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Chile these days. During the 10 th century, you may have mined the stone at Timna valley, known also as King Soloman’s Mines. An archaeologist has discovered that this was mined at this site for over 3000 years. Today most of the current productions at Timnais smelted but the finest stones are worked into the most beautiful pieces of silver jewellery
The History Behind the Malachite Stone
The malachite stone is said to have been named after the Greek word for Mallow, which is Malache, this is because its green colour is the same as the colour of a mallow leaf. Although some claim it is from the Greek word Malakos, which means soft as the malachite stone is a lot softer than other minerals and gemstone. The Malachite stone goes back to the times of ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptian times. The malachite was always a very popular stone and used for many different purposes such as to make eye shadow, amulets and of course fine jewellery. Malachite was also used to make the pigment in green paint. In the 19 th century, there was a real turning point in how popular the malachite stone became. It became a symbol of great wealth and Russian press was quoted at the time saying “ To afford to have a big piece of wrought in malachite is synonymous to owning diamonds”.
What Does the Malachite stone Represent?
In the ancient times of the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians they would carve malachite stone into amulets which would be worn to provide the wearer protection from the evil eye. It is believed that if you wear the malachite stone it will warn you of any impending danger by shattering into pieces. It has also been reported that malachite can mirror the feeling of the person wearing it, so it is best to wear it when feeling happy and positive That being said it is also a very calming stone so will help you feel more positive and bring you good vibes.
Looking After your Malachite Jewellery
The malachite stone is much softer than some of the other gems stones and so you should take care as it will be easily damaged and scratched. It rates a 3.5 to 5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. It is also very sensitive to sudden heat changes so should not come into contact with very hot water. To keep your malachite stone clean you should only wash it with warm water and a bar of mild soap. You should store this gem away from other jewellery to avoid
any scratches and ensure you take it off if participating in any sports. You should wrap the min a soft cloth and store in a fabric-lined jewellery box.
Wearing Malachite Jewellery
The Malachite stone is traditionally given as a gift on the 13 th Wedding Anniversary. With its vibrant green shades, it pairs really well with silver, gold or copper. The colouring means it is well suited to both males and females. Because this gem is more delicate than others It is not really recommended that you wear this gem daily, therefore, it is not suited to ring, buckles, or bracelets unless this is only going to be worn on special occasions. It is best suited to pendants, brooches, hairpins or earrings.