MALACHITE.
The Detox
Malachite is the metaphysical equivalent of a detox. It strips away the electromagnetic pollution clogging your energy field, banishing that brain fog, and allowing you to think more clearly again. Malachite is the perfect reset for your digital addiction, enabling you to break free from the compulsion to pick up your phone and it puts a stop to those negative thoughts driven by social media. If you are ready for an adventure and need a push, Malachite will be there to continuously drive you forward, protect, and ground you as you clear the path for the future version of you. If that adventure is love then Malachite is an ideal heart-opening crystal, attuning you to people’s energy so that you can find the one you are looking for.
The ancient Egyptians believed that in the afterlife eternal paradise was a place known as the “Field of Malachite” and they used Malachite to represent nature, new life, and fertility. Russian Czars used Malachite to decorate their palaces in the form of huge columns, fireplaces, giant urns, table tops, and elaborate boxes, thus demonstrating their wealth and power. Much of the Russian Malachite was mined in the Ural Mountains, which stretch from the Arctic Ocean to the Ural River.
Gilt Bronze Coffer inlaid with Malachite, est 1875-1895, from Russia.
© The Art Institute of Chicago
Malachite develops in a few habitats, all of which are super interesting. It can be found as massive (banded and non-banded), botryoidal, stalactite, fibrous (tradename Velvet Malachite), and very rarely as prismatic crystals. The largest deposits of Malachite are in Russia but it can also be found in Africa (DRC, South Africa, Namibia, and Zambia), France, Australia, Arizona in the US, and Mexico. Malachite is prized for its banded and concentric circle patterns, especially the “eyes” which come from the botryoidal and stalactite formations. It often forms with other copper-based minerals such as Chrysocolla and Azurite but also as a secondary mineral on Calcite, Chalcopyrite, and Quartz.
Slice of Malachite probably from a botryoidal nodule, from Shaba in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This has a nice pattern with the addition of “spots” and while it is considered lower-grade, I prefer this lighter colour. The next example is from the same place but varies from this sample in its patternation.
© Smithsonian
Slice of Malachite probably from a botryoidal nodule, also from Shaba in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Note the difference in the formation of the concentric circles to the previous example, these are tightly banded and “clean.” This is a more traditionally ideal specimen for lapidary etc.
© Smithsonian
Velvet (Fibrous) Malachite with Blue Azurite found in Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, the United States.
© Smithsonian
Malachite nodule found near Elizabethville in the Congo. Yes, it does look like a turd.
© Smithsonian
Polished Nodule of Malachite
Fibrous or ‘Velvet’ Malachite, Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Notes of Caution
Toxicity
Malachite is a Copper Carbonate Hydroxide and is toxic, so don’t be swilling this in a crystal elixir like it’s some kind of green juice. Only use polished Malachite against the skin in jewellery, as a meditation stone, or a pocket stone talisman. If you are handling raw Malachite always wash your hands afterwards and do not inhale the dust from it. Don’t be too afraid of it though, small amounts won’t kill you, just be mindful. Learn more below in the “Quick Guide” section under “Crystal Care.”
Fake Malachite
There is currently a horrendous amount of fake Malachite on the market. As it is an expensive crystal, there has been a surge to cash in on the spiritual market, taking advantage of those who don’t know how to spot a fake.
Generally, I haven’t seen large nodules or raw slices faked (that’s not to say it’s not being done) but I see A LOT of fake Malachite in jewellery (pendants and beads) and small shapes such as tumbles, hearts, stars, crescent moons, and small towers. I haven’t personally seen any very large towers, spheres, or skulls faked but I am sure there are some out there. When buying Malachite you must keep your wits about you. Some of this fake material is sold unknowingly by inexperienced sellers, some are sold knowingly. I told a local shop that their Malachite bracelets were fake, had a long discussion with them to show them how to tell the difference, went back a few months later and they were still selling them as genuine Malachite!
Much of the fakes are coming out of China so be very careful when buying online or on social media live sales as it can be hard to tell from a picture or video until you are inexperienced with it. The fake material is often made from polymer plastic, resin, ceramic, or even glass. The majority I have seen lately is polymer plastic in banded layers. Sometimes sellers do label this as faux or man-made Malachite so always read descriptions carefully.
Fake ‘Malachite’ heart.
Real Malachite is cold to the touch and much heavier due to its copper content than the polymer plastic fake versions - although this is hard to tell over the internet I know. The fakes often have a standard black, dark green, light green, repeating banded pattern as the fakers have only used three colours to make layers in the plastic. This can make the pattern look very uniform although I have seen some with some swirls in it.
Fake ‘Malachite’ hearts (left) vs real Malachite tumbled crystals (right).
Buyer’s Guide to Malachite
Private Buyers
First a bit of a disclaimer, I am a bit of a sucker for Malachite so I can’t really be trusted to give you impartial advice here on what to buy. I have bought way too much and will still buy more - I’m currently looking for a stalactite.
When you are buying Malachite there are a few things to look out for. If you are buying a polished piece either a tumble, palm stone, free form, tower, sphere, polished nodule, or even set in jewellery, look at the polish - is it nice and shiny? Next, look at the pattern. Do you like the pattern? Does it have good banding? Try to find a piece with a full circle and concentric bands - this forms an “eye”. This is the nucleus of the stone.
The shape of the crystal you buy depends on what you need it for: towers for transmitting your request to the universe, spheres for a 360°-degree energy field, toggle for rebuffing electromagnetic energy from your smartphone, pocket stone for protection on the go, or palm stone for heart-opening meditations. A Malachite Ankh is a perfect piece for an altar as both the crystal and the Ankh symbolised rebirth, new beginnings, and eternal life to the ancient Egyptians, adding to its potency. It’s giving serious goddess energy.
When you buy Malachite jewellery or beads be extra careful that it isn’t fake. Read the above section on “Fake Malachite” before purchasing any Malachite jewellery. A real Malachite jewellery box so that you can feel like Russian royalty on the other hand is a good investment. Surprisingly you can get small 100% Malachite boxes (4-10cm wide), quite reasonably priced, expect to pay anything from €/$40-150.
If you are buying Malachite as a specimen collector then there should be a few things on your wish list.
Velvet (Fibrous) Malachite. There are two options here, buy both if you can. The first is open fibres, which are strands of Malachite in a mass. Look for a bit of sparkle on the fibres and try to find fan-like patterns. Second is a nodule shape but it has a soft velvet-like coating of Malachite on the surface that makes you want to touch it.
Polished Slice of Malachite. You should have at least one polished slice with a nucleus and concentric circle banding (and eye). For an uber nice piece, get a horizontal slice of a single stalactite so you have a perfect circle and banding.
Malachite Stalactite. A single or multiple stalactite formation of Malachite, these look like wonky fingers and often have a druzy-like coating. Usually, these are pretty small and come on acrylic stands, but you never know your luck you might find a big one.
Malachite with Azurite. These two carbon-based minerals often form together and if you can, get a nice example of them paired together.
Prismatic Malachite. Now this is only if you have dosh to spend. You can get prismatic crystal formations of Malachite, it can look a bit cubic, tabular, or even bladed. These are rare and the only one I have seen came from Namibia. Be careful though as it can be mistaken for prismatic Dioptase, just look for that telltale evergreen colour of Malachite vs the more teal green of Dioptase. Best to buy these from specialist mineral dealers or directly from the miners in Namibia (via Instagram - pay with PayPal just in case).
Retail Buyers
When you are buying Malachite for resale firstly check it’s not fake (see above “Fake Malachite” section). I would always buy Malachite from a trusted vendor or wholesaler, this is not a mineral I would recommend buying online from China due to the high percentage of fakes. The majority of Malachite used to come out of Russia but there isn’t much production there at the moment. If you need a consistent flow then look for suppliers in Africa, specifically the DRC, but check for mining and working conditions if you are trying to source ethically.
For both online and in-person stores, Malachite tumbles (small and large sizes) and small organic-shaped pendants* sell very well. This seems to be the price point the average customer wants to pay. Once you get into carved shapes such as towers or spheres the price seems to increase vastly so unless you are running Instagram or TikTok Live Sales or you know your customers will buy then don’t invest in larger polished shapes. Polished nodules look great but again watch the size, if it’s over €/$150 it may sit around for a while. While Malachite is certainly attractive it isn’t everyone’s taste or colour preference.
* A note if you would like to stock Malachite jewellery - be very careful. Those crystal point-shaped pendants that are everywhere, usually the “Malachite point” is fake. This goes for beaded bracelets too - so many fakes.
Raw pieces of Velvet (Fibrous) Malachite do well but try to keep the retail price around €/$15-30, for a 4-6cm piece, for fast turnover. The combination of raw Azurite or Chrysocolla and Malachite on mother-stone does very well as the colour combos look great. These will be a safe investment up to about €/$100 per piece, retail, as long as they are a decent size. Showcase these on social media sites for a quick sale.
You can still buy raw chunks of Malachite but visually this is not as appealing as polished pieces so I would avoid those. If you are buying raw Malachite for lapidary purposes always use a respirator as the dust is toxic.
If you are buying for a mineral specimen business then similar advice applies to you as the private buyers (above section), look for interesting pieces - slices of stalactite, stalactite fingers (if they are small mount them on acrylic to elevate them), fibrous malachite with great fan shapes, small nodules with a velvet coating, and crystalized prismatic Malachite specimens.
Quick Guide | Malachite
Zodiac: Malachite is associated with the zodiac sign Capricorn.
Ruling Planet: The ruling planets for Malachite are Jupiter and Venus.
Chakra: Malachite is associated with the Heart (Anahata) Chakra.
Element: Malachite is connected to the element Earth.
Crystal Charging: Malachite should charged overnight under a full moon. Malachite has a heavy energy so cleaning with Sage smoke works well.
Crystal Elixir: Malachite is not suitable for making crystal elixirs as it is a copper carbonate hydroxide and contact with water may leech minerals and may also damage the surface of the crystal.
Crystal Care: Malachite can be cleaned with warm soapy water (no harsh chemicals) but you should avoid soaking it. A quick dip, clean, and dry thoroughly. It is best to simply clean it with a soft dry cloth unless it’s very dirty. Keep Malachite out of direct sunlight and never put it into an ultrasonic cleaner (even if it is set in jewellery). It is a soft mineral which will scratch so handle it with care. Malachite can be affected by heat so it is not suitable for adding to crystal candles. The copper content in Malachite will also turn a flame green but this also means it’s putting toxins into the air.
The chemical formula for Malachite: Cu₂(CO₃)