This gem can be justly considered Russian – only Russia has those huge deposits that made malachite world famous.
It is one of the most beautiful minerals. Its color is full of shades – rich palette of all green tones – from light-blue green (turquoise) to saturated dark green.
This stone consists of copper oxide for 72%, its color is explained by copper ion in its composition.
Malachite crystals are very rare and highly valued by collectors. Quite often it contains various admixtures which affect its decorative qualities. And on the contrary, it can be rich in inclusions which make it more beautiful.
Malachite is easily treated – well cut and polished, may acquire almost a mirror surface in the hands of a skillful master. However a treated surface is rather fragile – it gradually tarnishes and requires renewal. Malachite is heat-sensitive and not risistant to acids and ammonia.
Malachite has been attracting people since olden times. From the late Stone Age to the Iron Age it was the stone of craftsmen. The earliest malachite handicraft is 10500 years old! It is a modest oval necklace found in a neolithic burial in North Iraq. At that time it was valued not for its beauty, but mostly for its usefulness. Its wonderful color, its unique patterns and beauty started to be valued in the antique time. The stone became the material of an artist and the articles made from malachite became the objects of desire of wealthy people. It was even used as eye shadow (malachite powder).
It became much more popular when the first large deposits were found in the Urals of Russia in the XVIII century. But the “golden” age for malachite was the XIX century. This is when Russia began to apply it widely in science, art and technologies.
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