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Malachite derives its name from the Greek word for "mallow"meaning, a green herb. Its banded light and dark green designs are one-of-a-kind, and give it a unique ornamental quality. Malachite is sometimes coated with colorless wax, oil, or hardening agents to increase its durability and enhance its appearance. Malachite's fine acicular crusts and tufts are very popular that appear as a mat of thin hairs or as a carpet of green velvet. Malachite is found with many rare copper silicates, halides, phosphates, sulfates and carbonates such as duftite, libethenite, aurichalcite, sphaerocobaltite, kolwezite, shattuckite, atacamite, mixite, cornetite and much more. Tumbled stones of malachite are very popular and beautiful figurines carved in malachite are highly sought after. Malachite is used in making exquisite jewelry. The stones inlayed in silver make a nice variance from the traditional turquoise jewelry. Other stones such as coral, mother-of-pearl, azurite, jasper and onyx are also used in association with malachite handcrafted jewelry. The gemstone is found in the regions of Shaba, Congo; Tsumeb, Nambia; Ural mountains, Russia; Mexico; several sites in Australia; England and several localities in the Southwestern United States especially in Arizona, USA. |
