Peden and Malachite

“Reading History Fang Yao Yao” Volume 56 contains: “Tianzhu Mountain, State (Xing'an State, present-day Ankang County, Shaanxi Province) West 50 miles, there are more than 20 tourmaline, green and blue caves, Tang and Song are to take the tribute The beginning of the Ming Dynasty stopped.” Xia Xiangrong and others in the "Ancient Chinese Mining Development History," said: "According to the Yuan Dynasty's Buding is not a dianzi, the Ming Dynasty's tourmaline is no exception." This is because the turquoise (dianzi) is generally not Malachite (green, also known as "stone green") is symbiotic, while "silm Malachite" is often symbiotic with malachite. Since it is known that malachite is symbiotic with the "tourism", the "tourism" or "pyendron" is likely to mean "silicon malachite."

Malachite is a secondary oxygenated mineral that is usually found in the upper oxidation zone of copper mines. Malachite is named after a peacock green, mostly showing massive, stalactite, hull-like, and concentric bands. Hardness 4-6, specific gravity 3.9-4. It is often symbiotic with limonite, calcite, manganese clay, chalcedony, and malachite.

Silicon malachite is also a secondary mineral, most of which is formed by changes in the thermal solution of alkali silicates such as chalcopyrite and beryllium copper. Green, blue-green to sky-blue, often opal or enamel blocks, but also soil or grape-like person. Hardness 2 ~ 4, specific gravity 2 ~ 2.24. It is as opaque as malachite and has a shiny glass to earthy appearance. In addition to the difference in chemical composition, malachite is lighter in color than malachite and near-sky blue (close to turquoise), with a smaller specific gravity and hardness than malachite. In addition, silicon malachite is brittle and is one of the important distinguishing features between malachite and turquoise.

The ancients often mixed turquoise, malachite and silicon malachite. Many archaeologists still do this today. It is not rare that malachite is often mistaken for turquoise. Attention should be paid to the identification.