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Ural malachite: ornaments, history of fishing

About malachite knows, probably, every person who read in childhood tales of Pavel Bazhov about the owner of the Copper Mountain, which belonged to all the Ural treasures hidden under the ground. The whole history of this gem is composed of mystical events. In ancient times, people believed that malachite carries the forces of the Universe to Earth. This stone is associated with a large number of beliefs and legends, for example, that it can make a person invisible. It was believed that the Urals malachite can fulfill wishes!

The name "malachite": origin

The roots of the word "malachite" go to the Greek language. There are two versions of the interpretation of this noun. According to one, the Greeks called it stone because of its rich color - μολόχα - "green flower". Another version says that the name came from the word μαλακός - "soft".

And indeed, malachite is distinguished by its fragility, it is unstable to external influences. Jewelers say that the real Ural malachite is losing its color and fading, even if it simply sits dust! It is noted that the softness of this mineral can turn into its advantage. After all, malachite is well polishable and polished.

Colors characteristic of malachite

The mineral has a pleasant green color. In nature, you can find three basic shades: yellow-green, saturated green and almost colorless. However, there are unique specimens, the color of which varies from turquoise to emerald.

History of stone

The oldest malachite decoration was found in Iraq 10.5 thousand years ago. And in Israel, beads were found from malachite, whose age is nine millennia. In ancient Rome, malachite was used to create amulets and amulets. This mineral was extremely popular in China and India. In addition, it was used for the manufacture of paints, which for a long time did not lose its brightness. Proof of this is the tomb of the pharaohs. And beauties from Ancient Egypt from malachite powder made shadows for eyelids.

Ural malachite: history of fishing in Russia

Until the XVIII century, malachite was found only in the form of small nuggets. This mineral became popular only after the development of the Ural deposits began in Russia. It was the Russian miners who were able to find blocks of mineral that weighed several hundred tons. But the heaviest block had a weight of 250 tons. Found it in 1835.

The first malachite deposit was discovered in the forties of the 18th century. It is called Gumeshevskoe and is located at the sources of the Chusovaya River. Thanks to the opening of that mine in Russia, the production of small jewelry began. Rings and beads, earrings and pendants - the stone of the Ural malachite was usually used together with other stones, most often precious.

The flourishing of the fishery began after the discovery of the Mednorudnya field. It was then that a unique style of making products from this stone appeared, which was called Russian mosaic. Skillful stone cutters sawed stones on the thinnest plates, selected patterns and glued to the base. Then the process of grinding began. Russian masters created such Ural products from malachite, that no observer could even doubt the solidity of the products.

The reserves of the Ural malachite were so rich that some masters could afford to carelessly handle this mineral. There are cases when the malachite crumb, with which the masters refused to work, filled the pits in the pavement. Today, this extravagance seems like a real insanity, because even the smallest samples are a real miracle.

The year 1726 was marked by the fact that the first workshop on processing malachite appeared in the Urals. And in 1765 by the decree of Catherine I the first factory of the Ural malachite - the Ekaterinburg lapidary factory was opened. It was also a complex for the extraction and processing of this stone, the center of the stone carving business and an educational institution for several generations of masters.

The popularity of mineral

This stone became an ornament of the houses of the Russian and European nobility. It was used even for facing rooms, for example the Malachite lounge of the Winter Palace. It is difficult to overestimate the artistic value of this masterpiece of Russian architecture. The drawing is selected so skilfully that the joints between the plates are completely impossible to see. The columns of St. Isaac's Cathedral were also decorated with malachite. In the chambers of wealthy people, one could find objects such as a vase from the Urals malachite, clocks, snuff-boxes, caskets and even fireplaces and countertops from this mineral.

By the way, at that time it was very fashionable to collect interesting samples of various minerals, including malachite. To know even competed among themselves. The title of the owner of the best collection was rightfully received by Empress Catherine II.

Types of malachite

There are two types of Ural malachite - plious and turquoise. Plate malachite is fragile, and therefore worse can be treated. It is not used to create jewelry. Most often this species is of interest to mineral scientists. Lovers and connoisseurs collect samples of this mineral. The more common form of malachite is turquoise. Its structure is unique: a quaint pattern creates asymmetric strips and circles. Unique green patterns are valued by collectors and jewelers.

End of the malachite era

At the end of the XIX century, this delicious mineral became available not only to very wealthy people, but also to noblemen. Competitions on the number of malachite objects in houses have ceased, the mineral has become less used in interiors. Use malachite steel for the manufacture of paint, which covered the roofs of houses.

The revolution of 1917 led to the fact that the extraction of stone significantly decreased. This was due to the fact that the two main deposits - Mednorudnyanskoe and Gumeshevskoye - were severely depleted. At the end of the XIX century, the Gumeshevskaya mine was seriously flooded. So now this place is visited exclusively by extremals. Mednorudnyanskoe same deposit is still in operation, only minerals are extracted here, but copper ore. Today, the Ural malachite practically does not occur, and therefore it is valued more and more.

Malachite case today

The Urals are not the only place in the world where malachite deposits were discovered. Developments are also being conducted on the territory of Altai. By the way, sometimes there are samples of Altaic malachite, which in beauty and quirkiness of rings practically do not differ from samples of the Ural mineral. The modern leader in the supply of malachite is the Republic of the Congo. Malachite, mined here, differs from the Urals by a pattern consisting of flat strips. Minerals are extracted in the UK, Chile, Australia, France and Cuba. However, the stones mined in these mines are much inferior in their external qualities to the Urals malachite.

Does malachite have a future in the Urals?

Specialists have established that all world reserves of malachite can be attributed to the same type, and the appearance of a mineral with zonal oxidation of copper ores is associated. That is, the probability that new deposits of malachite can be found in the Urals is extremely high.

For several years, Grigory Nikolayevich Vertushkov, a professor at the Sverdlovsk University, is engaged in collecting information that is somehow connected with copper and malachite deposits. He is sure that the researchers were mistaken and in fact the reserves of the Ural mines are not depleted. Grigory Nikolaevich claims that the deep reserves of this unique mineral are not touched at two deposits.

The most famous products from malachite

The Malachite Hall mentioned above is just a storehouse of items from this mineral. Here you can see vases and tables, bowls and columns. It all took about two hundred poods (by the way, 1 pood is 16.38 kg). Almost all products here are made in the style of "Russian mosaic". 1500 poods of malachite was needed for the facing of the columns of St. Petersburg's largest Orthodox church - St. Isaac's Cathedral.

In the palace of Pitti, located in Florence, there is a malachite table, preserved since the peak of the malachite industry in Russia. For the London exhibition in 1851 an incredible collection of objects was made: doors, tables and chairs, floor clocks, vases and a fireplace.

Who should wear the products of malachite

Who can use the Ural malachite? Jewelry from this stone astrologers advise to wear representatives of such zodiac signs as Capricorn, Libra, Scorpio and Taurus. Malachite will suit people of creative professions. The benefit of this stone will bring writers, artists, artists. For women, malachite will help to keep youth and attractiveness for a long time.

How to distinguish this malachite from a fake?

The Ural malachite, the photo of which you have already seen, is very popular, and therefore its synthetic analog appeared on the market. To create a fake, plastic and glass are used.

How to distinguish a natural stone from a fake?

  • This malachite feels cool to the touch. Imitation from plastic is warm.
  • A stone made of glass is distinguished by the presence of transparent inclusions on the surface.
  • Imitations, which are made on the basis of other stones with the addition of mural and varnish, can be distinguished from natural stone by dropping ammonia on them: the malachite will acquire a blue tint, and the fake will not change.
  • You can distinguish genuine Ural malachite from counterfeiting with vinegar or lemon juice. True, the surface of natural stone after such a check will start to bubble.

The magical and healing properties of the Ural malachite

To allocate a green mineral with magical properties began in the Middle Ages. Small pieces of malachite were suspended over a baby crib, believing that they would drive away evil spirits and the baby would sleep peacefully. To protect an adult, malachite was engraved, usually in the form of the sun.

It was believed that malachite - a good helper in love rituals. He was often mentioned in fortune-telling and magical books as a means of attracting and holding love. Traditional healers with the help of malachite treated allergies and skin diseases, asthma and migraines.

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