Malachite

 

Possibly the earliest ore off copper, having been mined in the Sinai and eastern deserts of ancient Egypt from as early as 3000BC, malachite is a green copper carbonate hydroxide

Malachite played a key role in ancient Egyptian rituals. The hieroglyph used to represent Malachite (wadj- meaning green) symbolized vegetation, new life and fertility. Egyptians recognized the cycle of vegetation, meaning that death and resurrection were part of the circle of life, as humans would enter a paradise upon death, often described as the “field of malachite”.

Malachite: Copper Carbonate Hydroxide 

Malachite has been used as a pigment for thousands of years. It was one of the oldest known green pigments to be used in paintings. The mineral malachite is an excellent material for producing a powdered pigment because it can easily be ground into a fine powder, it mixes easily with vehicles, and it retains its color well when exposed to light over time.

Malachite pigment is found in the paintings of Egyptian tombs and in paintings produced throughout Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. Its use declined significantly in the 17th century as alternative green colors were developed.

                                       

                                                                               Malachite Jewellery

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