Malachite is a beautiful, luxurious, and powerful Gemstone. We will explore what natural chemical properties make it such, as to how rare it is, and what value it holds. We will delve into the many healing benefits and lifestyle benefits of integrating Malachite gemstones in your home. Furthermore, we will explain where the highest quality gemstones can be found, how you can know if yours is real or not, and how best to wear it. 

What is Malachite Gemstone made from, in terms of its natural chemical properties?

If you have ever seen a Malachite gemstone, then you know of its natural beauty, but what of its natural chemical properties?

Firstly, it is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral, historically used to produce copper metal. Malachite has the chemical composition of Cu2(CO3)(OH)2. Malachite is a mineral that naturally forms above copper deposits deep in the earth. It's for this reason that you will find it in Caverns or cavities, deep within caves. In most situations, Malachite is found inside of limestone alongside other minerals like Azurite, calcite, and iron oxides. It's one of the few green minerals that create effervescence if it contacts cold, diluted hydrochloric acid-- although this isn't something you should test at home.

Malachite is recognized for its striking green color ranging from pastel green to bright green and ending at the dark green spectrum. The actual gems are found along the surface of underground caves as a Malachite cluster of stalactites and they are cut from these caves in two pieces or slabs. All of the Malachite you find is rather soft with a Mohs hardness between 3.5 and 4.0, and because of this most gemstone collectors will treat the Malachite gemstones with a layer of resin or wax to add extra hardness and protection.

In rare situations, it can be found in the form of a crystal shape that is bright green but most of the shapes are Malachite clusters of stalactites that have more of a rich verdant luster. Malachite is a copper mineral and the color is so striking that it's very easy to identify malachite from other gemstones.

Where does the highest quality and authentic Malachite Gemstone come from?

Today the most common source of Malachite comes from Africa. The supplies that were historically available in the Ural Mountains are mostly gone as are the supplies that were exploited throughout Israel and Egypt. Today the majority of the Malachite Market is produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with smaller amounts found in France, Australia, and the state of Arizona.

Is Malachite a rare Gemstone?

Malachite is considered a rare gemstone in that the original deposits for the stones have been depleted leaving behind very few sources. The use of Malachite as gemstones and sculptural materials remains just as popular today as they were throughout history. It's quite common to cut the stone into beads or cabochons for jewelry. The fact that Malachite has such a rich color and one that doesn't fade with time or when exposed to light makes it particularly rare.

What value does Malachite hold today?

Malachite has special rings that are referred to as the peacock's eye. The value a particular piece of Malachite holds is contingent upon many factors including how many rings it has and how visible they are. The larger the piece of gemstone, the higher its value because the more rings will be visible.

Tangentially, while the color is easily recognizable, it does still have a range from light green through dark green and the actual hue of your stones will impact its value.

If the Malachite gemstone you have has been cut or polished it could have a very silky luster but in its rough and natural form it has limited clarity. Some gemstone collectors might encourage Malachite that has been treated with a wax or resin to increase its hardness. It's easy to find untreated pieces or treated pieces depending on which you prefer. It's important to understand that Malachite is quite soft and its natural form so having a piece treated with resin or wax might increase the value because it will be less prone to scratches or damage.

The value of Malachite it's also related to the cut and the shape of the gemstone you have. Malachite can be converted into small beads for earrings, bracelets, or necklaces, sometimes faceted sometimes not. It can also be cut into pieces for rings or pendants, tie pins, brooches. The value of its cut is again directly related to showing off the stripes or the peacock's eye.

How to know your Malachite is real?

Malachite is easily identified because of its distinctive, concentric rings. In some situations, you might have such a small piece of Malachite that you can't see the banding on the gemstone in which case you might need it identified by professional gemstone collectors. 

Keeping your eyes peeled for the green Malachite colors and the concentric rings will make it easy to know if your malachite is real. Malachite is related to a blue-green gemstone called Azure Malachite which, as the name suggests, has a mixture of blue and green colors in it. It's also related to the Eilat stone which is a Malachite mixture from Israel that has green and turquoise colors. So if you see a mixture of colors beyond the traditional green, it might be one of these relations. 

Who should wear Malachite?

There are many reasons why you should wear Malachite. If you simply want to add a beautiful gemstone to your collection, or you are looking for something to give as an anniversary present, Malachite makes a wonderful solution. Given the popularity of Malachite healing gemstones, people who are looking to improve the level of positive emotions in their life and do away with negativity can add Malachite jewelry. They can also be worn to help alleviate physical ailments.

If you simply want to improve the level of potential business success, Malachite gemstones can be added to decorative pieces for the home or the office.
Malachite is a wonderful luxury gemstone that pairs well with copper, gold, or silver. The green Malachite colors are so rich that they can be integrated into contemporary jewelry designs, tribal jewelry, and even vintage designs. Whether you want something subtle or dramatic, the fact that Malachite gemstones are not typically faceted means they can be drilled to fit men's jewelry and women's jewelry with equal resourcefulness.

If you want to purchase Malachite jewelry, some stones might be bigger or smaller than diamonds based on their weight so, rather than purchasing gemstones by the carat weight, you are much better off purchasing them by their size.

Tip:If you invest in malachite jewelry, it's important to know that Malachite gemstones are softer than most gemstones which means it's easier for them to get scratched especially if you wear them as part of your belt buckle, bracelet, or ring. That doesn't mean you can't of course, they can be worn regularly but they are less likely to become scratched if you integrate them into earrings, pendants, or other brooches. 

More important than that is the sensitivity of the gemstone to hot water, acid, and ammonia. When you are cleaning, avoid wearing any Malachite jewelry and when you are cleaning the jewelry itself, you want to use soapy water and a soft cloth, rinse it well, and allow it to dry naturally. Even trying to wipe dust off it with a firm grip can result in scratches to the exterior polish.

To ensure the longevity of any malachite pieces, store them in a soft cloth or a fabric jewelry box, and remove any jewelry you have before engaging in strenuous activity.

Why is Malachite expensive?

Malachite can be expensive for many reasons. The fact that it doesn't come from all over the world but from specific regions of the world makes the supply rather limited, increasing the value. The purity of most Malachite clusters that don't feature any type of azurite adds significantly to the expense. More importantly, most Malachite is found in the form of Malachite clusters deep in caves so it has to be removed from the cave and then processed but the size and shape of the stalactite dictate what sized gemstones can be cut from it. Finding natural reserves of larger clusters is much more difficult than finding larger gemstones, which makes larger gemstones more expensive.

What are the healing benefits of Malachite?

Healing gemstones are quite common and Malachite is one of them. Malachite has been integrated into amulets since the times of ancient Egyptians, ancient Greeks, and Romans. It was thought that Malachite amulets would protect against the evil eye. Long after, during the Middle Ages, Malachite was worn by children to protect them against black magic and Witchcraft. It was thought that Malachite possessed warning capabilities and if danger was nearby, the gemstone would break into pieces.

Today there are similar healing benefits associated with Malachite gemstones. While it's not believed that the stone will break into pieces and the event of an impending danger it is still believed that it possesses protective qualities. Many claim that Malachite is calming and can help release negative emotions and conjure positive ones. 

Being a traditional gemstone for the 13th anniversary of a wedding, it's also associated with physical benefits like reducing swollen joints, helping to alleviate menstruation, provide peaceful sleep, improve the circulation and immune system, and detoxify the liver.

When was Malachite first discovered?

Malachite was first discovered over 4000 years ago when it was mined and exploited across Israel and Egypt to produce gemstones, pigments, and sculptures. Malachite has been discovered in archaeological remains from the ancient Egyptians, ancient Greeks, and ancient Romans who used it for amulets and jewelry and would even grind it down to make a vibrantly green eyeshadow. Some of the green paints found at these ancient sites have Malachite pigments in them.

Malachite pigment can be seen in ancient Egyptian tombs and paintings and was used heavily throughout the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. In addition to being used as amulets, there are cases historically of Malachite being used to create small sculptures, again easily recognizable by the vibrant green color.

But Malachite wasn't limited to these areas, with large, 20-ton blocks unearthed in Russia and used for decorating the palaces of the Czars. The large deposits found in the Ural Mountains have mined very aggressively not just to provide jewelry for the Czars but sculptures and gemstones until about early 1800 when that supply ran out.

The most famous Malachite gemstone is not in fact a gemstone but part of the decorations in St Petersburg at the Winter Palace. At The Winter Palace, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna decorated a room referred to as the Malachite room in the 1830s. Inside this room, visitors are overwhelmed with opulent Malachite vases, full fireplace panels constructed of Malachite, and ornamental Malachite columns.

What are the benefits of having Malachite in your home?

There are many benefits believed to be associated with having healing gemstones like Malachite in your home. Malachite gemstones don't have to take the form of jewelry to be integrated into your house. Simply having the gemstones is said to encourage business success so any type of display or office paraphernalia that can be integrated into the home or office can reportedly bring with it these benefits.

Moreover, Malachite is believed to balance your heart chakra and help you deal with your emotions in traditional Hindu beliefs. Having Malachite in your home, therefore, can help maintain emotional balance for all family members.

There are many benefits associated with Malachite such as providing protection, alleviating negativity, and physically helping to enhance overall well-being like your immune system, your respiratory system, your liver, and your energy levels. With Malachite on display throughout your home or Malachite gemstones safely tucked away, you may be able to reap some of these additional benefits.