What is malachite? Where did this gemstone get its name?

Malachite is an incredible gemstone that ranges from very light green to bright green and even blackish green, with a variety of patterns made of copper ore. For centuries, malachite has been made in jewelry and carvings. The most common pieces of malachite gemstone jewelry are necklaces, earrings, and pendants. This semi-precious opaque gemstone is actually the 13th wedding anniversary gemstone.


The name malachite comes from the Greek molochitis, meaning soft green stone. According to ancient Greek mythology, the throne for the ancient goddess of harvest, Demeter, was made of malachite. In fact, malachite good luck charms were made for children in ancient Greece. To this day, malachite is often attached to baby carriages and believed to protect children from danger. The amazing color found in malachite was also used in green paints from ancient times to the beginning of the 19th century. Natural malachite was later substituted with the synthetic verditer, as well as additional forms of the color green.


Spiritually, malachite has been associated with balance, stress relief, and monetary success, which makes this a favorite gemstone among avid gamblers. This semi-precious gemstone has been mined since 4000 BC. In fact, the discovery of malachite brought about the search for more metallic ores. The main sources of malachite are Africa, Arizona, France, Namibia, Southern Australia, Siberia, Ural, and Zaire.


Coming in at 4 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, malachite gemstones are quite fragile so malachite jewelry should not be worn in extreme temperatures. These gemstones are porous and rather soft so they should not be cleaned with jewelry cleaning products since they can easily soak up fluids and remove the gemstones' polish. Do not use ultrasonic cleaners to clean your malachite jewelry and keep from doing chores while wearing it. To clean malachite jewelry, just use a delicate cloth.

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