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These large rough specimens are genuine Malachite and Chrysocolla from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), which is widely considered to be the best in the world.

This specimen weighs 966g and measures 12cm x 9cm x 6cm.

Malachite:-

Malachite is a green, common secondary copper mineral with a widely variable habit. Typically it is found as crystalline aggregates or crusts, often banded in appearance, like agates. It is also often found as botryoidal clusters of radiating crystals, and as mammillary aggregates as well.  Named in antiquity by Pliny the Elder 79 CE as molochitus after the Greek ”mallows” in allusion to the green colour of the leaves.  Known in the new spelling, malachites, at least by 1661.  Malachite is a green and common secondary copper mineral with widely variable habit.  Frequently found as a pseudomorph after Azurite crystals, which are generally more tabular in shape.

The name Malachite may come from the Greek word malakee, or malache, signifying the resemblance of Mallow leaves, or from the Greek word malakos, meaning soft. Being a carbonate of copper, Malachite is sometimes intergrown with Azurite, forming Malachite-Azurite, or with Chrysocolla, forming Malachite-Chrysocolla.

Well known to ancient Egyptians, Malachite mines were in use between the Suez and Sinai as early as 4000 B.C.  It was also popular with the ancient Greeks and Romans, for jewelry, ornaments, and in powdered form, for eye shadow. In the Middle Ages, Malachite was believed to protect against the "Evil Eye" and to cure various stomach ailments. Russian czars used Malachite for ornaments and paneling for their castles, and intricate inlay work.

Chrysocolla:-

Chrysocolla, the king of carbonate copper gemstones, is an alluring, vivid blue-green color and is often mistaken for turquoise because they share many visual similarities. It can often be found intermingled with malachite, turquoise and azurite, creating a wonderful mixed gemstone known as Eilat stone (named after the city where it was once mined). Legend has it that Eilat stone was originally quarried in King Solomon's mines in Africa--which is partly why it is the national stone of Israel. The rich, vibrant blue and green colors of chrysocolla are reminiscent of looking down upon the earth's surface from space.

The name chrysocolla was first used to describe the stone by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and botanist, in 315 B.C. The word was derived from the Greek words chrysos, meaning gold, and kola, meaning glue, referencing the fact that chrysocolla was employed from the earliest times by goldsmiths as an ingredient for solder, called santerna by the Romans, to weld gold pieces together. This fancy gemstone has indeed inspired creativity in many artists, whether they were ancient goldsmiths using it as solder, Renaissance painters grinding it as pigment for paint or modern jewelry designer-artists including it within their designs.

This stone lends itself well to opulence. Nero was a Roman Emperor and well-known patron of the green faction of ancient Rome. These ancient factions were split into four colors: red, white, blue and green and were elite clubs that people felt loyalty to above all others. They would have many competitions, such as chariot races, and would do anything to ensure that their club would win and be proven superior. The green faction was the most dominant club, so when Nero was to take part in a race as a charioteer, he dusted the circus arena with ground green chrysocolla powder instead of using the customary sand.

Chrysocolla can be found wherever large copper deposits occur, such as Africa, Mexico and the U.S. state of Arizona (where it is called Apache chrysocolla). Chrysocolla from the state of Arizona is a mixture of chrysocolla, turquoise, jasper, lapis, malachite and quartz crystal minerals. Chrysocolla forms in the oxidation zones of copper rich ore bodies. Pure chrysocolla is soft and fragile and therefore not appropriate for use in jewellery. However, chrysocolla often is "agatised" in chalcedony quartz and it is the quartz that provides the stone with its polish and durability.

Chrysocolla is a hydrated copper silicate belonging to the Silicate Class of minerals, ranging from light green to deep blue. This mineral is amorphous meaning that it does not have a coherent crystalline structure. 

Chrysocolla is  favored as a stone of prosperity and business astuteness, reacting upon the analytical and intuitive abilities. Like a balance scale, it can stimulate the mind and relax emotions at the same time.

Chrysocolla stimulates the initiative qualities of one’s character to release the distress of negative emotions and further the understanding of others. By accepting the perfection of the universe, it provides insights necessary to help re-align the physical body, intellect and emotions. This self-awareness and inner balance imparts confidence and enhances personal power. It helps one attune to the Earth and communicate with its spiritual forces, providing direction to do what is required to help the Earth heal itself.

Chrysocolla is a stone of empowerment of the feminine energies, teaching that genuine power is best expressed through gentleness. It is a stone of the Goddess, and those who resonate with it will likely feel her ancient and enduring energies rising within themselves.

It is the stone of forgiveness, peace, and the strengthening of emotional bonds. It encourages compassion, and helps us recover our natural spontaneity, but is first and foremost a Stone of Communication. Its very essence is devoted to expression, empowerment and teaching. The serenity of its turquoise-blue color discharges negative energies, calms, and allows truth and inner wisdom to surface and be heard. A peaceful stone, it emphasizes the power our words and actions have on those around us, and encourages compassion and strengthening of character.

One property of Chrysocolla known since antiquity, is its property of encouraging people to stay at home. It is the stone of monks, hermits and prisoners, diminishing the anxiety and depression that often accompanies seclusion. People with wandering temperaments, who never stay in one place, would benefit from it.

As a combination it is thought that this material has strong links with nature spirits and with Devic forces helping us to better attune to the Earth and to the spiritual forces of the Earth. It helps us with our own spiritual evolution, allowing us to receive spiritual guidance more easily and enhancing our psychic abilities. Malachite & Chrysocolla is an excellent stone for meditation making it easier for us to experience visualisations. It also stimulates our dreams and makes the recalling of them more vivid and it helps us to realise that there is much more to this world than the possession of material things.

Malachite & Chrysocolla can release past traumas, suppressed and negative feelings, hurts and resentments and bring us deep emotional healing. It brings us self-confidence and clears feelings of guilt making it easier for us to speak the truth. It helps us to break unwanted ties and patterns of behaviour, releases inhibitions and can encourage risk taking. All of this enables us to move forward and create the future that we want for ourselves. Malachite & Chrysocolla also gives us the ability to cope when the situation around us is constantly changing. It is a great stone for interacting better with other people, helping us to understand others point of view while increasing our own capacity to love. An excellent stone for re-building relationships.