Malachite

Malachite is known for it's bands of light green to dark green to almost black.  It's first use was as a copper source.  Malachite's chemical make up is  Cu₂(CO₃)(OH)_2. .  Soon better sources of copper were found and the beauty of the stone made it more valuable than the copper within. Malachite is formed in the oxidizing zone above copper deposits and can precipitate from there into fractures, cavities, and  limestone caverns.  It's hardness is 3.5 to 4 so this box was pretty easy for a lapideriest to make.  Why the little shell in this picture?  I was on the floor drawing pictures w/ a cousin when he was 5 years old.  He must have enjoyed that  because he got up, went into his room, and came back w/ the shell as a gift for me.  I've kept it in this malachite box ever since.  Recently saw the cousin again.  He's now 30.