Much of the malachite you’ll see today often has bands or stripes of dark and light green. It can be tumbled into smaller stones, and there’s also something called “velvet malachite,” which features tiny needlelike formations, Leavy says. Malachite can also be found naturally alongside azurite, sometimes forming into one bigger crystal. Other formations include “botryoidal formations,” which look like bubbles, as well as fan-like formations of longer crystals. Leavy says malachite has been used historically throughout ancient Egypt, Greece, and medieval Europe for everything from makeup to protection amulets. And because copper can be extracted from malachite, “you can imagine that when people saw this liquid, orange-red metal coming out of the green stones, they felt this was very magical,” she explains, adding, “This links malachite with the process of alchemy and transformation and magic, so those themes are strongly connected with it even still.” And speaking of makeup, Leavy does note that you have to be particularly careful with more fibrous forms of malachite, as the dust or powder that comes off it can be very toxic if inhaled. “For the most part, tumbled pieces are totally safe to handle, but it’s not a good idea to get them wet. It’s also a really good idea to be super cautious if you’re handling rough or fibrous malachite, and to wash your hands thoroughly,” she says. And that means love for yourself, too, Leavy adds. “It’s great for encouraging self-love and unconditional love, plus for enhancing confidence as well as compassion,” she says. Leavy adds you can also set up a crystal grid with other crystals associated with love, such as rose quartz, to amplify your intention for more unconditional love and compassion. Some other safe options for cleansing include surrounding your malachite with sound or placing it near a clear quartz crystal, which carries a naturally cleansing energy. And as modern mystic Imani Quinn previously told mbg, because malachite is associated with Earth, charging it by burying it in the ground is also a fitting option. On top of that, she adds, if you are wearing it as a ring or bracelet, be mindful not to get it wet when you’re washing your hands. Similarly, if you’re wearing it as a pendant, make sure it has a closed back so it’s not constantly touching your skin. Again, malachite is very porous, so you don’t want it to absorb your sweat or natural oils.
