Polished Malachite Slab - D.R. Congo

There are not many minerals that compete with the beauty of malachite. Natural malachite specimens are a staple in our galleries. However, polished malachite slabs such as this one do not stay on the shelves long. The natural curvature of its growth lines, paired with the deep green hues of this piece leaves us at a loss for words. Not many of our specimens have the amount of "bubbles seen in this one! Size: 4.5 x 3.3 in. Weight: 5.1 oz Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo Malachite is a copper carbonate mineral that can often be found in botryoidal, fibrous, or stalactite formations. Its name is derived from the Greek words "molochites lithos", meaning mallow-green stone. This is because is its close resemblance to the green leaves of the mallow plant. Records show that Malachite has been mined for almost 4000 years where it was smelted to obtain copper. It is frequently associated with azurite, calcite, and quartz. Malachite, similar to many other minerals, was used to create a