Malachite Box

Malachite is a green copper carbonate hydroxide mineral, and one of the first ores to be used to produce copper metal. It has been used as a gemstone, sculptures, and pigment for thousands of years.. Malachite’s striking green color ranges from a mint green to a deep, verdant emerald that’s almost black, and does not fade when exposed to light. The mineral is typically found as stalactites and botryoidal (round, orb) coatings on surfaces of underground cavities. When cut into slabs, the surfaces of these stalactites usually exhibit banding and eyes similar to agate. Malachite is one of the oldest known green pigments to be used in paintings. It can easily be ground into a soft powder due to its low Mohs score, mixes easily with water or oil, and retains its color when exposed to light overtime. The pigment is known as Olympian green. This green pigment is found in the paintings of Egyptian tombs and in paintings produced throughout Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. The use of Malachite as a pigment declined significantly during the 17th century when alternative green colors were developed.