~~~ Premium Quality Genuine Natural Malachite Round Bead ~~~

approx. size : 10.15 ~ 10.22mm

approx. total weight : 21 grams = 105 carats

10 beads, center drilled

Listing is for the exact 10 beads as pictured.

Color of gemstone may vary slightly from screen to screen.

*** Malachite is a basic copper carbonate that is formed from copper-containing solutions near copper ore deposits.  Though fairly soft compared to most gemstones (3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale), it is popular for jewelry and ornaments due to its striking green colors and interesting vein patterns.

Malachite is now relatively rare, but has been found in many locations around the world.  The most important deposits were once in the Ural Mountains in Russia, where 2 ton blocks once came from the quarries and were used to decorate the palaces of the Russian tsars.

Today much smaller deposits of Malachite are found in Africa - Zambia, Congo, Namibia and Zimbabwe, and has also been found in Israel, England, France and the U.S. (Arkansas and Arizona) and Australia (New South Wales).

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, once known as Zaire, has become the most important Malachite producer.

Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used Malachite for jewelry and ground it to use as eye shadow.  It is used in amulets to protect against the evil eye.  In the Middle Ages it was used to protect children from witches and other dangers. 

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