Wearin' o' the Green: Malachite and Mallows

          On this St Paddy's day, malachite, especially this form of the copper carbonate  hydroxide replacing the limestone of stalactites or stalagmites, is our featured green mineral.

          Malachite's name derives from the Greek Μολοχίτης λίθος molochitis lithos, "mallow-green stone", from μολόχη molōchē, variant of μαλάχη malāchē, "mallow". The mineral was given this name due to its resemblance to the leaves of the mallow plant. You've likely seen these (marsh) mallows ;-) before:

            The resembance to other forms of malachite is remarkable:

           Malachite is fairly common and was used as a mineral pigment in green paints from antiquity until the 19th century. The pigment is moderately light-fast, very sensitive to acid, and varies in color.  

        It has also been used extensively in jewelry (with no shellacking ;-)):

          One of the greatest occurrences of malachite is in the Ural Mountains in Russia. It is mined fairly easily with other copper minerals, especially azurite.

           Uploading images on Blogger has been hiccuping here all night--must be the green beer at the local Irish pub.

              Enjoy all the green today and all the way into spring!

Happy St Paddy's Day all ye Malachites!

Steph

And footware for 3/17 is now easy as pi: