MALACHITE

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ONE OF THE OLDEST STONES mined for its beauty and multitude of uses is malachite. Its name comes from the Greek word for “mallow”—a plant with leafy, dark green foliage. A copper carbonate hydroxide known for its deep green coloring, malachite forms in several shapes. When cut in a cross section, some specimens display gorgeous colored rings and organic shapes varying from pale to dark green.

One of the most famous locations for malachite was the Ural Mountains of Russia. Two large deposits were found in the early nineteenth century, and malachite found its way into the court and heart of the tsar. The Malachite Room in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg features not only vases and carvings made from the stone, but great pillars and mantelpieces as well. Some of the greatest examples of its use in St. Petersburg are the giant malachite columns inside the famed St. Isaac’s Cathedral.

Malachite has been used ornamentally since the Early Dynastic period in ancient Egypt. Carved into protective amulets and powdered for pigment in both paintings and eye cosmetics, malachite was honored among Egyptians and thought to be a part of the gods’ physical realm. In the Middle Ages, the stone was used medicinally to treat heart ailments (it was ground and mixed with milk) and was mixed with honey to stop a wound from bleeding. During that time, it continued to be used as a talisman, and new mothers were often advised to give teething children a string of malachite to ease the pain. Its connection to children can be seen in several cultures throughout history, and it was regarded as a stone of great protection for children, thought to keep evil at bay and ensure a restful sleep.

Those in the metaphysical community believe that malachite is one of the greatest of the protector gems. It is believed to guard against mental and physical harm and is thought to facilitate needed change in one’s life. Malachite is often associated with the zodiac sign Taurus.