Malachite

About Malachite

Its distinctive banded patterns in varying shades of green are instantly recognizable. Russian Tsars decorated entire rooms with malachite - the Malachite Room in the Winter Palace contains over 200 tons. It was ground as pigment for green paint for thousands of years. It is always found near copper deposits. The Democratic Republic of Congo produces the finest specimens. It is relatively soft and must be protected from scratches and acids. It has been used in jewelry since 4,000 BCE in Egypt. It is pseudomorphous - it can replace other minerals while keeping their shape. Large masses weighing several tons have been found.