Malachite ash tray from Zambia

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Malachite is a secondary copper mineral found in oxidized copper deposits The massive botryoidal reniform and stalactitic forms are dense intergrowths of tiny fibrous needles Such specimens are virtually always internally banded in different shades of green and can be seen when a specimen is polished or cut open These bands give much interest to this mineral as an ornament owing to its popularity The banded specimens are frequently polished or cut into slabs to show the bands Occasionally the bands consist of concentric rings such specimens are highly sought after Polished banded Malachite has been carved into ornaments and worn as jewelry for thousands of years and in some ancient civilizations it was thought to be a protection from evil if worn as jewelry

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Size: 5120px × 3413px
Location: Zambia
Photo credit: © Mark Boulton / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: africa, ash, banded, botryoidal, carved, concentric, copper, cut, fibrous, green, malachite, needles, ornament, oxidised, polished, reniform, rings, stalactitic, stone, tray, zambia