This special appearance of Malachite is called "grape-like aggregates", but only inadequately describes the fascinating appearance of the polished pieces.
Size of the Malachite: Base area approx. 13 x 10cm, height approx. 6.5cm; weight approx. 1.62kg.
Origin: Congo (Zaire)
Even in ancient Egypt, women used the powder of crushed Malachite as eye shadow and the stone was used to carve amulets, scarabs and statuettes. In ancient cultures, Malachite was a stone associated with femininity and was therefore always dedicated to a goddess.
Malachite is also important in modern gemstone healing: Malachite promotes the desire for adventure and intense life, it deepens the emotional life and supports the power of imagination and determination. A sense of aesthetics, beauty and sensuality, friendship and justice are themes attributed to Malachite. The green gemstone helps to better empathize with others and to understand their thoughts and feelings.
The cauliflower-like shape of Malachite is called botryoidal in mineralogy; this name is derived from the Greek word bótrus (bunch of grapes).