Where is malachite mined, the history of the stone, what jewelry is it used in?

Consists of 71.9% CuO copper oxide (Cu 57%), 19.9% ​​CO2 carbon dioxide and 8.2% H2O water. Expressed by the chemical formula Cu2(CO3)(OH)2. The outdated chemical name is copper carbonate.

Colors and varieties

The main color of malachite is always green, due to the large amount of copper. Gem varieties are distinguished by patterns, shades and impurities. The main varieties are:

• Finely patterned malachite. A gem with a large number of white inclusions and veins, very rare. Its pattern resembles birch leaves. A box made of this type of malachite inspired Pavel Bazhov when he wrote his Ural legends.

Finely patterned malachite

• Silk malachite, also known as corduroy or velvet. It consists of small “grains” of rock, which makes it very difficult to process. The gem feels like silk, suede or velvet to the touch.

Silk malachite

• Turquoise stone. If green malachite is copper hydroxide, then it is its phosphate, from a chemical point of view, a completely different stone. In appearance and texture it resembles its more famous brother, but is more hard and has a bluish tint.

Turquoise Stone
The pattern and depth of color depend on the location where the stone was dug.
Samples from Namibia and Congo boast black regular circles that contrast strongly with the bright green main color of the crystal. In the Urals, malachites with a pattern of light straight lines are found.

Basic information about the stone

Malachite is a semi-precious mineral of amazing beauty. Its name comes from the Greek word “malakos”, which means “soft”. The color of the stone ranges from delicate light green to deep dark turquoise. The gem is covered with concentric patterns, their outlines can be either lighter or darker than the main color of the mineral - they go deep and slide along the surface, twist in spirals and bloom in clusters.

Crystals are especially beautiful when polished; they are often used to make various decorative items, and less often - jewelry. The mineral is so remarkable in appearance that it has even been immortalized in literature - in the middle of the last century, the writer Pavel Bazhov published a collection of “tales of the old Urals” and called it “Malachite Box”.

At all times, malachite was deified, endowed with magical properties, considered a talisman against the evil eye, protection from enemies and evil spirits, but in this article we will look at the stone with the strict gaze of science.

Magical properties of malachite

Malachite jewelry
From the moment malachite was discovered, the stone was credited with many unique magical properties, which are described in many ancient legends. Sorcerers and magicians recognized that the gem fulfills wishes and acts as a conductor between our world and other worlds of the Universe.

Ancient legends describe the mysterious disappearances and appearances of people, cases when a person became invisible. It was also believed that if you drink a drink from a malachite vessel, you will be able to understand the language of animals.

Malachite was considered a stone of nature, a forest gem - it was the forest that endowed the mineral with its power. Therefore, travelers wandering through the forest thickets took this gem with them. It was believed that the nugget protected a person from predators, arrows of savages, and helped to find the right path among animal paths.

The stone also has a dangerous side. Wearing it for a long time is not recommended, since the mineral awakens the natural animal nature in a person - intuition begins to prevail over logic, instant muscle reaction overshadows prudence and thinking, self-control gives way to free expression of feelings.

Ring malachite

In addition, mediums believe that the danger of malachite for women is expressed in the ability of the gem to attract men. At the same time, there is no division of people into good or bad - the mineral attracts suitors of any kind to the owner.

This is fraught with the fact that the young lady may end up in the hands of a not very decent man. You can protect yourself from this by wearing jewelry in a silver frame - this metal will help protect a woman from aggression, neutralizing the negative desires of men. In addition, silver enhances all the magical abilities of the mineral.

In the modern world, malachite acts as an assistant to speakers, artists, and all motivated individuals who want to achieve success. The stone makes such people more confident and eloquent. Businessmen can also enlist the help of a nugget by placing a malachite souvenir on their desk. Such a thing will attract good luck in business, directing success towards business development.

This is interesting!

One of the ancient legends says that malachite is able to warn its owner of danger. Signaling trouble, the mineral breaks into small pieces.

The gem bestows inspiration and new ideas on creative people, becoming a friend to poets, artists, and sculptors. This amazing mineral helps get rid of fears, calm your thoughts and soul, and relieve stress. By removing all blockages, the gem helps you find new ways to achieve your goals.

Chemistry of malachite rock formation

Malachite is formed in sources of copper ores, in a situation where ore deposits are located in carbonate rocks such as limestone and dolomite. It is often accompanied by sulfide minerals such as chalcocite and bornite. Malachite deposits are primary, that is, they do not migrate over time.

The mineral is usually located on the surface of the soil, it rarely lies deep, and therefore the sources dry up quite quickly. The situation is paradoxical, the stone is not rare, but in order to satisfy demand, you need to constantly look for new mines, which is not very profitable, given the relatively low price of the gem. This paradox is the reason for the huge number of counterfeits of a stone common in nature.

Gems are formed as a product of a hypergene process, that is, due to the weathering of copper-containing ores. Let's delve into the chemistry of the main stages of this process:

• Copper rock is exposed to groundwater; carbon dioxide and oxygen are dissolved in this underground life-giving moisture, which also go into solution and determine the final chemical formula of the mineral;
• The resulting solution seeps through the limestone rock;
• At the moment of seepage, the final reaction occurs and malachite is gradually formed.

The process of rock formation is best studied in quarries. By-products resembling stalactites and stalagmites can be observed, they are formed when droplets of copper solution evaporate in the voids.

Talismans, amulets, amulets

In Ancient Egypt, amulets were made for children to improve sleep and calm them down. The stone was believed to ward off evil spirits.

And in the Urals, a green patterned gem is considered a stone of joy and happiness. Products with malachite especially help people with a kind heart and pure intentions.

You can have a mineral even without cutting. It's great for meditation. It is better to purchase a stone in spring or summer, then it will help and support, and give strength.

Acquired in autumn and winter – carries the energy of withering.

Price

Satin ore is a semi-precious stone; its cost is considered to be quite affordable. A gram costs about $5. The products themselves are of course more expensive:

• cupronickel earrings -1000–1200 rubles;
• bracelet – 1000–2000;
• beads – from 3000;
• silver earrings and ring – 4000.

Nature gave the green mineral its strength and beauty and shared with it the power of the forest. Even though the stone is considered semi-precious, in some cases it has no price. If a person sees a malachite product, he will forever be fascinated by its beauty.

Healing properties

A figurine of a malachite bear.
Lithotherapists attribute the following to the medicinal properties of the Ural gem:

• normalization of an unstable emotional state;
• decreased blood pressure;
• relief of cramps in various diseases;
• relief of arthritis pain;
• relief of asthma attacks;
• in women - relief of pain during painful menstruation and childbirth.

Carefully!

Since malachite lowers blood pressure, it is not suitable for hypotensive patients!

Some experts even mention the fight against cancer among the healing properties of “Ural greens”. They claim that constantly carrying a large gem with you slows down the spread of metastases.

Malachite is a good object for meditation. If you look for a long time at the play and interpenetration of colors into each other on the surface of the stone, you can calm your nerves and smooth out aggression.

The lighter and brighter the stone, the higher its healing qualities. The abilities described above can be enhanced even more if you encase your specimen in copper.

How to wear and care for it correctly?

Malachite is the stone of spring, the beginning of flowering, the beginning of the very life of nature. Therefore, it is best to purchase malachite jewelry in spring or summer, no later than August, then the mineral will be most magically powerful. If you buy a gem in autumn or winter, it will not carry vitality, but the energy of withering.

Wearing jewelry does not require compliance with any special rules. Beads and bracelets are worn as you please, but rings are worn only on the middle finger of the left hand or on the little finger. As for the requirements for the image, here you need to be guided exclusively by the general rules of color combinations. Do not forget about the compatibility of stones with each other when choosing jewelry to pair with malachite.

Important! If malachite is used for medicinal purposes, the stone must be “cleaned” after each use. To do this, you need to place the mineral in the ground overnight, or in a flower pot. The next morning the stone will be suitable for the next use. Do not forget also to change the soil used for cleansing once every lunar month.

Remember to be careful and careful when using it, because malachite is a fragile stone. The mineral does not tolerate shocks or sudden temperature changes; it is easy to scratch or leave chips on the surface. A soft cloth and a light soap solution will do for cleaning. It is also worth protecting the gem from exposure to acids and household chemicals.

Areas of application

Vase made of malachite in the Hermitage
The properties of the malachite stone - strength and at the same time softness, beautiful patterns and unique colors - have ensured its popularity among jewelers. The gem is used to make jewelry, boxes, stands, vases, and candlesticks. They decorate columns and statues and lay out mosaics.

Back in the Middle Ages, craftsmen made figurines, chess pieces, and tabletops from Ural stone. The best works of art can be admired in the malachite room of the Hermitage.

Temples, for example, St. Isaac's Cathedral, were also decorated with gems.

Malachite products are still valued today. Figurines, watches, ashtrays from the best craftsmen are very expensive and can fit into any interior. Decorating with Ural stone tiles is also popular.

Since ancient Egypt, malachite ore has been used to produce copper.

No melting down

Copper is not mined from malachite now (and thank God