malachite

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Malachite

This page presents the Spectroscopic analysis of this pigment.
The pigment has been examined using XRF spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and Reflectance Spectroscopy. These complementary techniques provide valuable insights into the pigment’s composition and structure.
This page aims to show which analytical methods are most effective for identifying this pigment in artworks and historical materials. By comparing results across different techniques, it serves as a practical reference for Heritage Science, Conservation, and Pigment Analysis.

It is perhaps the oldest known green pigment.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 10300
Chemical description: mineral basic copper(II) carbonate. Kremer PDF
Color: green
Color Index: PG30
More info: Pigments Through The Ages Colourlex

Malachite is one of the earliest green pigments used by humankind, valued for its vivid, naturally occurring hue long before the emergence of synthetic greens. A basic copper carbonate mineral, malachite was mined and processed as early as ancient Egypt, where it served both as a cosmetic and as a pigment for wall paintings and decorative objects. Its strong, opaque green appears prominently in Egyptian tomb art and on wooden, papyrus, and plaster surfaces.

Across the ancient Mediterranean, malachite was used extensively by Greek and Roman painters, who ground the mineral into a fine powder to produce a range of greens from soft, delicate tones to saturated emerald shades. Its presence has also been found in Byzantine frescoes and icons, where its stability and availability made it a reliable choice for large-scale mural projects.

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, malachite continued to play a central role in both panel painting and manuscript illumination. Although sensitive to acids and prone to alteration under certain conditions, malachite offered artists a natural green unmatched in brilliance at the time. It was especially valued for mixing with yellow pigments to create varied greens and for glazing effects when finely ground.

The pigment’s importance began to decline in the 18th and 19th centuries with the introduction of more stable and intense synthetic greens, such as emerald green, and later chromium-based pigments. Still, malachite remained in use for traditional techniques and decorative arts.

Raman Spectroscopy 532 nm – ElviRa Spectrometer for Art

Raman Spectroscopy 532 nm (ElviRa spectrometer) Pigments-Checker Database (74045 downloads )

Raman spectroscopy 632 nm

Raman spectroscopy 785 nm

Pigments (powder, no binder)

Raman Spectroscopy 785 nm Pigments (pure, no binder) (76697 downloads )

Pigments with acrylic binder (Pigments Checker)

Raman Spectroscopy 785 nm Pigments-Checker Database (77622 downloads )

Pure pigments (no binder, just powder)

DOWNLOAD Free Raman Database

DOWNLOAD paper: “Pigments Checker version 3.0, a handy set for conservation scientists: A free online Raman spectra database”

Malachite 10300 Raman Spectroscopy Pigments Checker

XRF spectroscopy

XRF Spectroscopy Pigments-Checker Database (88926 downloads )

DOWNLOAD previous database from Pigments Checker V.3 DOWNLOAD paper: R. Larsen, N. Coluzzi, A. Cosentino “Free XRF Spectroscopy database of Pigments Checker” Intl Journal of Conservation Science.