chalcedony

Chalcedony. Specimen mined in Namibia

A beautiful mineral of the quartz family, consisting of fibrous, microcrystalline quartz with some admixture of opal. It derives its name from Chalcedon in Bithynia, near which it occurs quite abundantly, and has been known by the name from ancient times. Chalcedony never occurs as large crystals, but usually in mammilary, botryoidal, or stalactitic forms, lining or entirely filling the cavities of rocks, and more particularly old igneous rocks. It constitutes the whole or principal parts of many agates. It is usually translucent, sometimes semi-transparent, has a slightly waxy luster, and is generally white or bluish-white in color, sometimes reddish white or milk white, and less frequently gray, blue, green, yellow, brown, or even black. Its fracture is even, or very slightly conchoidal. Chrysoprase is a gem variety colored apple-green by colloidal nickel silicate, and is found in Silesia and California. Bloodstone is a dark-green variety of chalcedony containing nodules of red jasper, used in medieval sculptures of martyrdom or flagellation. Other forms are cat's eye, carnelian, and sard (a brown form closely related to carnelian).

Chalcedony is used in jewelry, for brooches, necklaces, and ornaments of all sorts, the largest pieces being sometimes made into little boxes, cups, etc. It was used a great deal in ancient times, for amulets and seals and for bringing good luck, in Greece, Egypt, Palestine, and Western Europe, and many beautiful engraved specimens appear in museum collections.

Chalcedonies with disseminated spots of brown and red were called stigmites or St Stephen's stones. Petrified plants are sometimes found in chalcedony, Specimens of chalcedony are sometimes found enclosing a little water in the interior, which gives them a very attractive appearance. Ancient people set a high value on these so-called enhydrites.

Related category

• GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE

Also on this site:

Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia of History

BACK TO TOP