The name malachite derives from the Greek Moloche meaning mallow, because the stone is the same color as mallow leaves. Ancient Egyptians wore malachite in jewelry and used it for carving ornaments. In Ancient Egypt, the color green was highly symbolic, representing new life and fertility. Ancient Egyptians referred to the eternal paradise they believed awaited them in the afterlife as the “Field of Malachite”. Malachite was used in the elaborate cosmetic designs that high ranking Egyptians painted around their eyes to distinguish themselves and mimic their falcon-headed god, Horus. Most people imagine Egyptian eyeliner to be black but green was commonly used as well. Some of the first malachite deposits to be exploited were located in Egypt and Israel.
Over 4000 years ago, mining was used to produce copper. Material from these deposits was also used to produce gemstones, sculptures, and pigments. Several large deposits in the Ural Mountains of Russia were aggressively mined, and they supplied abundant gem and sculptural material in the 1800s. Very little is produced from these deposits today. Much of the malachite entering the lapidary market today is from deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Smaller amounts of malachite are produced in Australia, France, and Arizona.
