Malachite, from the Greek word malakhe, meaning mallow - a plant similar in color. A carbonate of copper, malachite is opaque or semi-opaque and always green. It has a striking color stratification, varying from a bright green to a very dark, even blackish green. The "stripes" are generally curved according to the outer surface of the stone.
As far back as the Bronze Age, malachite was used for ornaments and jewelry, but was also melted down to produce copper. It was highly valued for many centuries in Eastern Europe as an ornamental stone, especially in veneered form for tables andd boxes.
Malachite is said to reflect the feelings of those who wear it.
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