Malachite stone can be ground into a velvety green pigment — ChillScroll

Banded green malachite stones beside a mortar of deep green pigment and a paintbrush

Malachite stone can be ground into a velvety green pigment

Malachite is a naturally occurring green copper mineral, often found near blue azurite. Artists sorted, crushed, and washed it to prepare a range of green pigment particles.

The stone already has the stripes; the mortar simply lets the green travel.

Source · J. Paul Getty Trust ↗