MAL-FL-02 Origin: Congo Grade: AA Dimensions: Approximately 60-90mm Weight: Between 60 and 80g Origin: Congo Grade: AA = very high Freeform malachite polished on both sides, approximately 60-90mm. Patterns and colors may vary from one stone to another. The name malachite comes from the ancient Greek "malaikhé," which translates to "mallow." This is not the name of the color mauve, but of the plant named "mallow" (a plant with beautiful, relatively soft green leaves). Another hypothesis suggests that the origin of the name malachite comes from the Greek "Malachos," meaning "soft," in reference to the stone's softness. This interpretation is often the one retained. Malachite belongs to the large family of carbonates. This stone is actually a true hydrated copper carbonate. It has a hardness of 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale, making it a soft stone. Working with it in jewelry requires skill to avoid breaking or scratching it. This stone is easily recognized by its green color, which can be more or less dark or light, speckled with light veins, or conversely, black. Its green color results from the presence of copper. More rarely, malachite sometimes takes the form of prismatic crystals. Unlike many stones, malachite has numerous stories, legends, and myths associated with it. The first uses of malachite date back to 4,000 years before BC. One could say its history goes back to the dawn of time. For millennia, malachite has been used by many civilizations for therapeutic, medicinal, cosmetic, and decorative purposes. In ancient Egypt, the venerable green stone was a symbol of rebirth, eternal youth, and good health. For the Egyptians, death was a sign of a new life. They even named the afterlife as the domain of malachite. Egyptian women wore malachite as an amulet in the image of Taweret, the protective goddess of maternity. In daily life, malachite was ground and used as a cosmetic (eyeshadow), while also being reputed to relieve eye infections. The ancient Greeks considered malachite a protective stone with many medicinal virtues. Warriors wore it as an amulet in war. The Greeks also discovered the delicate and meticulous engraving of cameos in malachite.