Malachite vs Emerald: What Are They, And What's The Difference?

Green is a popular color for gemstones, and there are many from which you can choose.

Malachite and Emerald are some of the favorites within this popular option.

Malachite vs Emerald: Explained

What is Malachite?

Malachite is a material that has been used as a gemstone and in sculptures for generations.

It has a wide range of vivid colors, all on the green spectrum.

This gemstone does not dull, no matter how much time has passed.

Malachite is a copper carbonate hydroxide that forms when copper, a mineral, is altered by other chemicals.

These gems are found deep in the earth.

Limestone is the most common carbonate mixing with copper to create Malachite.

Sometimes confused with jade, or even chrysocolla, Malachite has been made into a powder for use in pigment and color.

Malachite is brittle and has limited uses as a result.

Its hardness is between a 3.5 and 4, which means it is not very hard (malachite cannot even scratch glass).

Therefore, it is not ideal for jewelry that might have high impact.

It is best in earrings, pendants, and pins.

What is Emerald?

Emerald is a deep green gemstone that is created from beryl, which is a mineral.

The beryl must have a rich and deep green color ranging from bluish green, green, and slightly yellowish green to be considered an emerald.

This is one of the most sought after gemstones.

That, in combination with how rare it is, has caused its value to increase substantially over the years.

Unfortunately, it can only be found in four countries: the Zambia, Colombia, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.

It can be found in the United States, but only in rare places in North Carolina.

Emerald must be found in rocks that have beryllium to produce beryl, while vanadium or chromium are also present to ensure it has the green color.

Natural emeralds have inclusions and fractures and do not look perfect.

What Makes an Emerald Green?

The Emerald is one of four gems that are recognized as precious stones.

The others are rubies, sapphires, and diamonds.

Emeralds are made from Beryl, but it is chromium or vanadium that gives Emeralds their green color.

It requires only a trace amount of these minerals to make an Emerald green.

The only color you will ever see an Emerald is green, but they may take on different shades of green.

They can range from a deep jade color to a yellow-green.

When you see a pale colored stone, it is not actually an Emerald.

It is a green beryl.

Most people want Emeralds that are a blue-green to green color with a medium to medium-dark tone.

What are the Similarities Between Malachite and Emerald?

Both Malachite and Emerald are soft gemstones that can chip or break easily.

They are both green in color but may not look like the same shade of green.

These gemstones are best in pendants, earrings, and pin settings.

Neither of them is ideal for rings unless you are going to set the stone in a way that will protect it.

Both of these gemstones are expensive mostly because of how rare they are and are only found in specific places.

What are the Differences Between Malachite and Emerald?

Emerald is a more popular gemstone than Malachite, even though it has more imperfections in the stone.

It is more expensive than Malachite, but still is less popular.

Malachite has a hardness factor of 3.5 to 4, whereas Emerald has a hardness of 7.5 to 8.

Malachite is most commonly found in Africa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Lesser amounts of Malachite are found in Australia, France, and within the United States, but only in Arizona.

Emerald, on the other hand, is found in Zambia, Colombia, Brazil, and Zimbabwe.

It can also be found in lesser amounts in the United States, but only in North Carolina.

Malachite contains copper, so this gem has been melted so it can be smelted to take the copper from it.

Malachite has a more milky looking texture to it.

While there are Malachite with no striations in it, it does tend to have them.

Even though most Emeralds have inclusions, they appear more clear and not as milky.

Why Are Malachite And Emerald Easily Confused?

Malachite and Emerald are often used for the same type of jewelry.

This is because they are both green in color and tend to be softer types of gems.

However, for those who do not exactly how to identify either one of these gems, they may not easily tell the difference between them.

What Do People Believe About Malachite?

Many people believe that Malachite can heal people when they have had emotional trauma.

When someone needs emotional healing, they turn to Malachite.

Malachite is considered the stone of the heart chakra. When the heart chakra is blocked, the person might have a difficult time expressing love.

This gemstone is believed to help people become more in tune with their hearts and learn to express the love they feel.

Malachite is said to allow people have a healthy relationship based on real love and not just need. It can help be the guardian of your heart.

Malachite is also though to protect people from negative energy.

What Do People Believe About Emerald?

The Emerald is considered Cleopatra’s gemstone as she wore it.

The ancients considered the Emerald to symbolize fertility and immortality.

The Emerald is considered to be the revealer of truth.

It could supposedly cut through spells and illusions, including a false lover’s oath.

It is thought that the Emerald can reveal true love and bring lovers together.

In Rome and Ancient Greece, it is believed to be the gemstone of Venus, who is the goddess of love and hope.

Even though it is not red, the Emerald was consider the stone of love, but a mature and faithful love.

Emeralds are believed to have an energy that is soothing.

It is thought to promote harmony and creativity in the workplace.

It is said to bring about creativity and focus.

In Conclusion

It comes down to personal preference if you would rather have an Emerald or a Malachite.

They have many similarities and a few differences.

While they look different, someone that is not trained may not know which gem is which.