Malachite

Malachite is a popular stone which has dark and light green banded areas, and this patterns give the stone its unique ornamental look unlike that of any other gemstone. It a carbonate mineral normaly known as «copper carbonate». It ranges between 3.5 – 4 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Although malachite is sensitive and not very hard, if handled with care it can be very durable. This vivid green gem gets its color from the copper content in its chemical formula. Crystals are rare, they belong to the monoclinic system of symmetry.

Malachite derives its name from the Greek word ‘mallow’, which means a green herb. The stone also known by its trade name the peacock stone.