The deep hue of green that we witness all around us is intriguing and calming. This explains why exploring the jungle or taking a walk through the park can help us relax and also ignite our creative juices. With the speedy life, it becomes nearly impossible to spare time for such leisure. But nature has its way of staying close to us. Malachite is that brilliant move made by nature that lets us enjoy the lush green even in the corporate offices.
Malachite, the deep green coloured gemstone is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral. It is extensively used in jewellery making due to its enchanting colour and its ability to withstand the sun. Yes, it does not fade when in contact with the sun. Moreover, malachite can be powdered easily; hence, it is also used for adding colour to various materials. The stone was named after the Greek word ‘mallows’ that translates as ‘green of leaves’.
Origin: The striking green colour of malachite is not the same everywhere. It has banding all over the surface, resembling every shade of nature. It is found extensively in Egypt, Russia, Congo and Israel. A limited amount of malachite is also located in Australia, France and Arizona.
Pricing: Malachite is mostly opaque. Designers cut it into many mesmerizing designs. Some of the most popular cuts of malachite in jewellery making are round, square, teardrops, rectangular etc.
inrOrnament designs: Jewellery makers include both polished and rough malachite in their designs. The polished ones create a neat look while the rough stones lend a rustic vibe to the ornament. We can find these in abundance in stores as ring mountings, pendants and even beads of a chain. Silver or white gold is the perfect choice to pair with this alluring gemstone. Hence rings, bracelets and necklaces in silver encrusted with malachite are popular choices.
Other Uses: Apart from being a popular choice in ornament designing malachite is also used for creating ornamental products for décor. So, don’t be astonished if you find a beautiful wash basin with green banding. Some popular decorative items that use malachite are vintage pens, decorative walls, jewellery cases, watches, idols etc.
Malachite is both affordable and common. However, there are also many imitations of the gem available in the market. Before buying malachite, you must know how to identify the real one. Here are a few tips for the same.
Touch: While touching the stone, it will feel hard and dense. You may also find it to be very cold to the touch. Crooks mostly create fake malachite out of plastic or glass. Plastic will feel warm and light. However, the glass will be heavy and cold. But it will become warm in your palms.
Pattern: The stripes found on the malachite are uneven. There might be circles and speckles in every shape and size. Fake malachite will have uniform patterns.
Colour: There is also vague news of red and blue malachite. Always remember that malachite is green and comes in no other hues.
Sometimes crystals of leftover malachite are crushed and mixed with dyes to create a large stone. This stone may confuse you a bit as it will still be freezing to the touch. However, you can recognize real malachite by its weight. The real ones will be heavy due to the density.
Malachite is genuinely a ‘man with many hats’. Invest in some of it to enjoy the calming properties.