Botryoidal Malachite 440gr

Collected from Katanga Province, DR Congo, this specimen features gorgeous botryoidal malachite formations created by densely packed crystal aggregations. It has a beautiful velvety shimmer and an aesthetically pleasing natural display.

Botryoidal Malachite is a striking form of the mineral malachite, known for its smooth, rounded, bubble-like surface that resembles a cluster of grapes — which is exactly what “botryoidal” means (from the Greek botrys, meaning "bunch of grapes"). This texture forms when tiny mineral layers build up over time around a nucleus in open spaces like cavities or fractures within rock, creating a naturally sculpted surface.

Malachite itself is a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral, famous for its vibrant green color and beautiful banded patterns. In its botryoidal form, malachite takes on a rich, velvety appearance with subtle variations in shade — ranging from deep forest greens to lighter, almost neon tones — and sometimes displays concentric rings or swirling patterns when cut and polished.

Botryoidal malachite is not only visually captivating, but also geologically fascinating. It forms in the oxidized zones of copper deposits, often alongside minerals like azurite, chrysocolla, and cuprite. Because of its eye-catching form and vivid color, it's highly prized by mineral collectors, lapidary artists, and those interested in metaphysical properties, where it's often associated with transformation, protection, and heart chakra healing.