Malachite

Malachite hand cut and polished. Set in Copper.

Necklace is 18"

Center stone is approximately 1.25" x 1.25" 33mm x 33mm

Malachite is a vibrant, green-banded copper carbonate hydroxide mineral. Known for its distinct swirling patterns and opaque finish, it is prized as an ornamental gemstone, a historical paint pigment, and a prospecting guide for copper deposits.  Humans have valued malachite for thousands of years. It is heavily used in jewelry, carvings, and inlays. A famous historical example is the Malachite Room in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. Malachite is mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in the Katanga Province.