MALACHITE
Malachite -or chrysocolla in ancient Greece- is mineral basic carbonate of copper found in nature associated with azurite, Armenion ( the blue carbonate of copper). They are both spotted in copper ore deposits and one can see beautiful examples of their complex in Lavrion or Alistrati mines. From Alistrati, near Serres,and the island of Thassos came one of the best green pigments of the ancient world, the Macedonian chrysocolla. Today the name chrysocolla is used for a different stone, a hydrated copper silicate mineral. It should not be confused with the pigment from malachite, which we still supply in small doses of 20 grams -upon request only.
Chemical formula 2CuCO3•Cu(OH)2
