What is malachite made of

Malachite has such a beautiful name because its color resembles the green of the spots on a peacock's feathers. In ancient China, malachite was called "greenish green", "stone green" or "greenish blue". Malachite is an ancient jade material.

Malachite is a copper-bearing carbonate mineral. Its chemical composition is Cu2[CO3](OH)2, CuO71.9%, CO219.9%, H2O8.15%. It belongs to the monoclinic crystal system. The crystal form is usually columnar or acicular, very rare, and usually cryptocrystalline stalactites, massive, crusty, verrucose, and fibrous aggregates. It has a concentric layered and fibrous radial structure. It is green, peacock green, and dark green. It is often striated, silky or glassy, and appears to be transparent to opaque. Refractive index is 1.66-1.91, birefringence is 0.25, multicolor is colorless - yellowish green - dark green. Hardness is 3.5-4.5, density 3.54-4.1 g/cm3. brittle, shell-like to jagged fracture. It reacts with hydrochloric acid and dissolves easily.

Difference between malachite and similar jade. Malachite is characterized by its peculiar malachite green color and typical banded branching. It is not easily confused with other gemstones, but is similar to beryl and fibrous serpentine. The difference is that turquoise has a higher hardness of 5-6, a lower density of 2.6-2.9g/cm3, and a lower refractive index of 1.62. Fibrous serpentine has a hardness of 2-4, a density of 2-2.4g/cm3, and a refractive index of 1.57.

Types of Malachite and Evaluation. The varieties of malachite are Puchong Braintone Malachite, Malachite Gemstone, Malachite Opal, and Green Malachite. Malachite is a very rare malachite crystal. As an ornamental stone and craft ornaments, malachite requires bright color, pure and uniform, clear color bands, dense lumps without holes, and the bigger the better. Malachite opal requires its background color to be positive and its light bands to be well-defined. Malachite can be carved into chicken heart pendants, egg-shaped rings, necklaces, and can also be made into seal material.

Malachite Care. Malachite is not durable, low hardness, and cannot maintain good luster for a long time. It can only be made into beads and brooches. In Russia, malachite is used as an interior decorative material for buildings, and the columns of St. Isaac's Cathedral in Leningrad are inlaid with malachite. Malachite was also used to carve a variety of ceremonial objects and decorations, mantelpieces and tabletop inlays.

As early as 4,000 years ago, the ancient Egyptians exploited the mines between Suez and Sinai, using malachite as amulets for their children. They believed that hanging a piece of malachite on a child's cradle would drive away all evil spirits. In some parts of Germany, it was believed that those who wore malachite could avoid the threat of death. In the 13th century B.C., China's Yin Dynasty had malachite hairpin artifacts. Because of its bright blue-green color, it became one of the most attractive decorative materials among minerals.