malachite

Metaphysical Monday

Malachite - Fire Element, Solar Plexus, Heart, Strength in Taking Action

Malachite is a stone of wonderously verdant green coloring. Often bespectacled with wavy lines or rippling patterns, Malachite is an eye-catcher!

What is it that makes this stone so green? Copper! If you think about it, that green tone that copper takes on as it ages is exactly why Malachite is green. Malachite is a copper carbonate mineral that is cut from botryoidal masses with fibrous banding of lighter and darker shades of vivid green. Sometimes, Malachite occurs in a stalactite or as a crust on other mineral deposits. You'll aslo find Malachite intermixed with Azurite, Chrysocholla, or Turquoise.

Malachite, like Lapis Lazuli, was a popular mineral in Egypt around 3000 BC. Both minerals were ground up and used as eyeshadow powder as well as jewelry and ornamentation.

The word Malachite, however, has Greek roots, with malache meaning mallow, and malakos meaning soft. Malachite is indeed a soft stone and is one of the few minerals that requires a sealant when it is done being shaped and polished.

Despite its green coloring, Malachite is believed to be a Fire Element. Additionally, Malachite is said to resonate with the Solar Plexus and Heart chakras with a strong yang polarity. These energies are said to strengthen one's ability to take action and create form from thoughts and ideas. If you're seeking alignment and expression of personal and divine will, Malachite might be a great stone for you.