Malachite is green stone with irregular bands of lighter and darker green. The name malachite comes from the the Greek word malache which means mallow, for the mallow leaf of the same hue.

Malachite was popular with ancient civilizations in Egypt, Rome and Greece where it was used in jewelry as well as cosmetics. During the Middle Ages people believed it protected against childhood dangers as well as being a cure for vomiting.

Gem cutters pay special attention to orienting malachite in order to showcase the interesting layers and markings. This makes the stone popular for objets d'art, jewelry, inlay and other ornaments.

Gemological information

Gemological Information for Malachite
Color	Bluish Green or Green, Banded
Crystal Structure	Monoclinic
Refractive Index	1.655 to 1.909
Durability	Poor
Hardness	3.5 to 4
Similar Stones	Chlorastrolite, Azurmalachite, Dyed Onyx
Treatments	Paraffin or Resin Impregnation
Country of Origin	Worldwide including: Australia, US, Chile, South Africa, Israel, France
Malachite Care
Ultrasonic Cleaning	Never
Steam Cleaning	Never
Warm Soapy Water	Safe
Chemical Attack	Attacked by Acid
Light Sensitivity	Stabile
Heat Sensitivity	Affected

Sources

Gem Reference Guide, Los Angeles: Gemological Institute of America, 1988. Pp. 161-162.

Newman, Harold. An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, New York: Thames and Hudson, 1981. Pp. 192.

Schumann, Walter. Gemstones of the World, New York: Sterling Publishing, Co., 1977. Pp. 176.