“Emerald City”, Malachite Stalactites

Star of the Congo Mine, Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, DRC

36 cm tall x 27 cm wide

Malachite, a copper carbonate, has always been valued for its vibrant green colors and unique spiral growth patterns. The earliest kingdoms of Europe decorated palaces with malachite inlay furnishings, primarily sourced from the ancient mines of the Ural Mountains. Today, the very finest come from China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Malachite stalactites represent the epitome of earth’s abstract sculptures. The elegance of the tall spires, the peaks and valleys, varying in color from dark forest to pure jade green and the sugary texture reflecting light in all directions makes “Emerald City” among the most spectacular of malachite specimens.

This specimen was featured in our Illumination exhibition.