Thanks to its unmistakable colour and beauty, malachite is a gemstone often used by jewellery designers.
Its irregular stripes and rings of varying shades of green give it a unique character and incredible versatility in both jewellery and costume jewellery.
Because it’s an easy gem to find, it may not add value to jewellery, but the market behaviour is very different.
Malachite is a gem used in high-priced jewellery made from precious metals such as gold, and is also used in much lower-priced jewellery made from less precious metals.
Despite its fragility, malachite is a highly lustrous gemstone and is also used in a dull state. However, the gemstones used to achieve the lustre make it more resistant on the surface.
Malachite is usually obtained as a by-product of copper mining, the element that gives it its green colour.
It occurs as an opaque mass. Its main characteristic is a pattern characterised by stripes of different shades of green or rings of the same hue.
Características da pedra malaquita
In the pictures below we see malachite in its raw state and below a sample of malachite that has been transformed into a cabochon with stripes and rings. It’s the contrasting shades of green that give it its distinctive character.
It is used in various types of jewellery, adding value to the product.
Malachite is a very common mineral and can be confused with green agate and aventurine quartz. Although it is abundant in nature, it’s a gemstone that also has an artificial version.
Artificial malachite is very similar to natural malachite and originates from Russia.
Malachite is found in Australia, Mamibia, Russia (Siberia), the United States (Arizona, North Carolina and Pennsylvania), Zaire, Chile, Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo), Zimbabwe and its main producer is the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Some characteristics of malachite
It is a hydrated copper carbonate. Its prismatic crystals are not easily visible. It is not only used as a gemstone in the jewellery industry, but also for decorating rooms, making objects, etc.
- Density: 3.8
- Refractive index: 1.65-1.90
- Crystal form: monoclinic
- It is described as a secondary mineral because it is formed by a chemical reaction between minerals that have already formed.
Treatment
Less compact malachites can be better stabilised with epoxy resins, varnishes or waxes, which also give greater lustre.
In some cases, particles or pieces of malachite are bonded together with special resins. This takes away the natural character of the gemstone. It does, however, make it more resistant to cutting and polishing.
Many companies in China specialise in this type of treatment and development with gemstones such as malachite.
Hardness
Despite its low hardness, it can be worked into gemstones of various shapes and finishes. It can even be faceted. It has a low hardness (3.5 to 4.0) but a relatively high density (3.95).
CARE
As a gemstone that is sensitive to heat, acids and ammonia, it requires care when preparing and wearing jewellery.
If you use malachite in your jewellery, it’s important to warn your customers about the care that should be taken with malachite.
These warnings can be given in small leaflets that come with the jewellery. The customer will appreciate this.
Curiosities
All the great emperors of the past, such as the Romans, Egyptians, Greeks and others, used malachite as an amulet or to decorate rooms.
Some have described it as a healing gem.
However, due to its copper content, it can be harmful to the skin in its raw state. Once polished, the wax or polishing material inhibits this harmful property.
Some people believed it brought luck and power.
According to some mystics, it channels energies and directs them towards a single goal.
Weight and size
Malachite is easily found in polished form. The different sizes and shapes available give malachite versatility in jewellery making.
However, ios malachite is also used to create jewellery in combination with precious metals such as gold and silver.
Some designers use IOS malachite by cutting one stone or another in half or by adding cut or form details to enhance the value of the gemstone.
Cutting
Some designers use malachite in special shapes and with unique cuts. This is done to adapt the gemstone to the design of the piece and to add value to the jewellery.
Because of its low hardness, it is easy to cut and shape into various forms. In the box below, we see malachite being cut and fully adapted to the design and details of the pieces in a collection.
Unlike other gemstones that require special equipment to cut, malachite has been prepared and cut by many goldsmiths using simpler tools and on the bench.
It is easy to saw and shape with bench tools.
However, some experimentation is required for this type of work. This ease of cutting malachite is due to its low hardness and easy acceptance of lustre.
As it is readily available in a wide variety of shapes, this makes it easier for the goldsmith to give it a different shape.
Sophistication in cutting malachite
The low hardness of malachite sometimes facilitates the more sophisticated cutting process in complex jewellery.
In the images above we can see how carefully the malachite is cut and set in a very complex piece.
Both the designer and the cutter must take great care to achieve perfect settings.
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