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Malachite
Jun 28, 2024 10:26:24 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by cabby on Jun 28, 2024 10:26:24 GMT -5
Quick question… I have a receipt that says “1 LB African malachite” but I have found around 3.5# so far. Does it actually matter where it’s from, or are all sources more or less the same? It’s currently all lumped together and I have no idea how much was purchased at a time or where it was from.
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Post by vegasjames on Jun 28, 2024 10:48:04 GMT -5
Malachite will vary from place to place. The Congo malachite is the best known and most popular with its beautiful patterns. The malachite here in Nevada is a nice dark green, but not patterned. Here is a cab made from Nevada malachite. ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/dyvr1oalk/image/upload/v1719589677/alv2wved70cxku2cjg7d.jpg)
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Post by cabby on Jun 28, 2024 11:02:41 GMT -5
All of the rough in the “malachite” box have distinct lines or waves, except for the largest chunk which I’m not sure if it’s even malachite. Would the pattern mean it’s all African malachite, probably from Congo? Thanks for the help! ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719590511/dqgz6mqqzvy0fsd9xeu9.jpg)
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Post by vegasjames on Jun 28, 2024 11:14:10 GMT -5
All of the rough in the “malachite” box have distinct lines or waves, except for the largest chunk which I’m not sure if it’s even malachite. Would the pattern mean it’s all African malachite, probably from Congo? Thanks for the help! ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719590511/dqgz6mqqzvy0fsd9xeu9.jpg) Yes, that is Congo malachite.
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Post by cabby on Jun 28, 2024 11:37:08 GMT -5
Thank you! So darn much for me to learn… I GREATLY appreciate people giving me shortcuts in my studies!
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,998
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Post by gemfeller on Jun 28, 2024 16:22:00 GMT -5
Don't know about the piece on the far right but the others are definitely Congo material. If you want bull's-eye cabs, slab the striped material parallel to the stripes.
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Post by Mel on Jul 3, 2024 14:07:38 GMT -5
That material is stunning wherever it's from. WOW!! I was under the impression that congolese malachite had the circular pattern gemfeller . Didn't know they have malachite in Nevada, even if it's not the same pattern that is AWESOME!!!
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_pink.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_pink.png)
Member since June 2022
Posts: 586
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Post by ThomasT on Jul 3, 2024 14:32:13 GMT -5
Malachite deposits are vast... copper ore.
It's a bit hard to understand how the market prices got so high recently. Very good marketing skills no doubt.
Gem Silica Chrysocolla Chalcedony, Shattuckite or botryoidal Malachite with crystals now is a different story.
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Malachite
Jul 3, 2024 15:09:12 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by cabby on Jul 3, 2024 15:09:12 GMT -5
The thing that has been shocking me the most as I am starting to learn about these things is the different qualities! I had never considered rocks “lapidary” material until recently and was caught way off guard when my attempts to learn more kept coming up with things about real vs fake, dyed vs natural… I had assumed that the standard was using natural, workable forms of whatever rocks.
I now know better than to just assume that everything in this “collection” is a pure natural rock, but figuring out what treatments they may have or how to grade them will require a lot more studying. I’m grateful to you guys for sharing your hard earned knowledge 😁
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