Malachite
DR Congo
14.71 carats
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Malachite was popular in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and was used for jewelry, amulets, as a powder for eye shadow and colouring pigment. Nowadays it is popular for jewelry and ornaments.
Malachite dust is toxic and must not be inhaled during cutting and polishing.
Azurmalachite is an extremely colourful massive material that combines the rich hues of malachite and azurite.
Malachite Gemstones by Colour
This table shows the variety of hues this gemstone can be found in. Click on a photo for more information.
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Malachite Gemstones by Size
This table shows distribution of Malachite gemstone sizes that are listed on this site. This can give a good indication as to the general availability of this gemstone in different sizes.
Contributed photos
Lightest:2.87 cts
Heaviest:2590.5 cts
Average:75.20 cts
Total photos:52
Do you have a larger Malachite? Why not upload a photo?
| General Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Malachite Treatments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malachite often takes a rather poor polish and paraffin wax is used to improve the appearance and hide small cracks; epoxy resins could be similarly used - Nassau (1984) The surface can be hardened with artificial resin. - Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann, 2001, p 176 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Physical Properties of Malachite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 3.5 to 4, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.25 to 4.10, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cleavage Quality | Perfect, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fracture | Conchoidal,Splintery, Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Heat Sensitivity | Sensitive to heat and hot waters., Gemstones of the world (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Malachite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.655 to 1.909, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) BlinkingMore from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial/-, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.250 to 0.254, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pleochroism | Absent, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dispersion | None, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Deep saturated green and show characteristic banding, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Causes of Colour | Green, Cu2+ in octahedral coordination, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transparency | Opaque, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous,Silky,Dull (Earthy), Gemstones (2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence & other light emissions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fluorescence (General) | None, Gemstones of the world (2001) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Malachite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Monoclinic, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Habit | Aggregates of radial fibres with botryoidal forms or stalactitic/stalacmitic structure, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where found: | Malachite occurs as a common secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of copper ore deposits and can be an ore of copper., Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inclusions in Malachite | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Often intergrown with azurite, turquoise, chrysocolla - Blue Chart Gem Identification, Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, 2010, p 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Further Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Malachite information at mindat.org | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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