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MALACHITE INFORMATION
Quick It is most often used as an ornamental stone and used in slabs which are less susceptible to damage than small pieces. When fashioned into jewellery, malachite is cut into cabochons or beads as it is unsuitable for faceting. The great advantage of cabbing malachite is that it brings out the gemstones attractive black and green banding without necessitating the creation of facets whose sharp edges would easily be chipped away. Although malachite is fairly Malachite is soluble in hydrochloric
acid. As it dissolves it gives off a Malachite is a member of the carbonate group of minerals and gemstones. It is a carbonate of copper. It also contains 2 atoms of oxygen and 2 atoms of hydrogen - since these elements are the components of water, malachite is said to be a hydrated carbonate. Crystals of malachite are rare, but those which do exist belong to the monoclinic system of symmetry. Malachite commonly forms in kidney-shaped (botroydal) or radiating masses The sheen of malachite is variable. Crystals
sparkle like diamond - this is known as adamantine lustre. Fibrous varieties tend to have a silkier appearance while great masses are
dull. Malachite is a common secondary product which forms through chemical reactions to pre-existent copper minerals, especially chalcopyrite. It is found in oxidised zones of copper deposits where it is often associated with azurite. Malachite is widely distributed but seldom occurs in large quantities. Some of the finest deposits have been found Australia, France, Tsumeb (Namibia), Katanga (Zaire) Arizona and Siberia.
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of industrial copper ore. Malachite has been known for thousands of years.
Early civilisations wore malachite amulets to ward off danger and
illness. Malachite is a very beautiful gemstone but it is fairly soft
and not very resistant to heat. As a result it is too vulnerable to
wear and tear to be widely used in jewellery and cannot be counted in
the first rank of precious gemstone material.
widespread, it is only a minor ore of copper. It is mined because it
tends to occur in association with cuprite, the principle ore of
copper, and with the native copper itself. The main significance of
malachite in the industrial extraction of copper is as a prospecting
guide. Its distinctive green colour is readily visible in weathered
zones of nearly all copper deposits and provides geologists with a
reliable indication of where to start digging.
strong
effervescent fizz. It should
only be washed with distilled water as the impurities in tap water may
irreparably damage its surface.