Chalcedony: deposits, properties, types and applications

A translucent mineral, a variety of quartz, is well known since ancient times. Today, chalcedony is one of the most popular ornamental stones. For a variety of colors and shades, jewelers love him very much. He is appreciated by alternative medicine and astrology. Let's try to figure out why this mineral is so popular.

Thanks to the ancient Greeks, mankind has learned a lot. And the discovery of chalcedony is also their merit. During one of the trips to the shores of the Sea of ​​Marmara, near the city of Chalkidon (the territory of modern Istanbul), a nugget of an unusually beautiful color palette was discovered. At the place of the find they also called a stone.

For the Greeks, this became the will of the gods, because it was they who were recognized as the best masters in the processing of precious and semiprecious stones, but there were no quarries of their own. It was such natural wealth that was often the cause of war. And here is such a gift - chalcedony deposits, from which jewelry and more significant figures can be cut.

It is this mineral that laid the foundation for a new jewelry form of art called glyptic. Ancient Greek gems, cameos on cabochons depicting animals and birds, reliefs and bas-reliefs describing the lives of people, prints are still known all over the world.

Even in the revelations of John the Evangelist there is a description of the chalcedony that adorned the walls of Heavenly Jerusalem. But with the fall of the Ancient World, glyptic was forgotten for a long time. Only in the era of classicism, as a result of archaeological excavations, magnificent gems were revived.

Chalcedony again attracted the attention of masters and the powers that be: according to eyewitnesses, Napoleon and Byron had rings with this stone, and A.S. Pushkin had two of them. Later, many creative personalities acquired such gifts thanks to the friend, poet and collector of minerals Maximilian Voloshin.

Chalcedony is a type of quartz. It is porous, consists of the finest fibers that can be seen under an electron microscope. About one hundred varieties of completely different colors and shades are found in nature, but they are secondary, that is, the mineral absorbs them from the environment, dyeing evenly or interspersed, with color transitions.

With the penetration of goethite mineral, chalcedony becomes yellow, hematite - red. Pyrite, manganese oxides or organic compounds give a bluish-gray or black color. And in each field the color will be different.

Chalcedony is not uncommon, therefore it is quite widespread. Being a variety of quartz, a mineral is formed from volcanic rocks, crystallizing under the influence of water and high pressure or under the influence of high temperatures (700-1000 degrees). In nature, different subspecies can adjoin so close that in one stone there can be both a sarder and a carnelian. It is possible that there is a neighborhood of variations on the territory of one mine, but most often one type of chalcedony is mined in the field.

The oldest developed deposits are Germany. Also mined mineral in Brazil, India, Madagascar, Uruguay, USA, Italy, Sri Lanka, Poland, Czech Republic, Australia, Canada, Scotland, Ukraine. There are deposits in Russia in Transcaucasia, Primorsky Territory, Chukotka and Kolyma, the Urals and the Crimea, Eastern Siberia and the Moscow Region.

It is important for a person buying a stone to know what qualities a mineral can possess in influencing health and psycho-emotional state. But they depend on the physicochemical properties of the mineral. Therefore, let us say a few words about this.

Having the chemical formula SiO2, chalcedony is silicon dioxide (dioxide), it can have inclusions of iron and other oxides. With a small amount of impurities it has a transparent or translucent color of yellow-white tones. In hundreds of varieties of chalcedony, the physicochemical properties are similar, which unites them:

• it is a fairly solid mineral (on the Mohs scale it is estimated at 6.5-7 points);
• according to density it belongs to the middle group (2.58-2.64 g / cm³);
• transparency is cloudy or translucent;
• gloss - waxy or matte;
• when split, it appears to be more fragile than quartz;
• at break - uneven;
• properties are largely dependent on impurities.

Lithotherapy (stone treatment) has long been using chalcedony in the treatment of mental health, as well as internal organs, the circulatory system, eyes, and bone tissue. But the properties depend on the variety of the mineral:

• agate helps with coughing and toothache;
• the heliotrope is responsible for the work of the heart and blood vessels;
• sarder has a healing effect: restores the skin as a result of mechanical or surgical intervention, fights ulcers, is a means of combating infertility;
• nature has created sapphirin for hypotonics, as well as for those who need to normalize the work of the heart;
• carnelian is considered a hemostatic, relieves toothache, improves the general condition of the skin;
• onyx helps in the work of the liver and kidneys;
• Chrysoprase makes life easier for weather-sensitive people (for this it is recommended to drink water that stood for about 5 hours in the sun, and in which chrysoprase was lying at that time).

In ancient times, chalcedony was used to treat fever and skin diseases; in the Middle Ages, they tried to get rid of dysentery with mineral powder. Today, in the countries of the East, toothpicks from yellow chalcedony whiten teeth and strengthen gums. But most often, modern lithotherapists use minerals of this group to treat nervous disorders. For treatment, stones should be worn in the form of jewelry, attend stone therapy (stone therapy) sessions in beauty salons or Ayurvedic clinics.

Stone therapy is a massage using hot stones (and this may already be a contraindication for some diseases). After such a massage, the client experiences relaxation, the outgoing heat penetrates under the skin and saturates the body with oxygen, causing blood flow to accelerate. This helps relieve pain.

Ayurveda with stones cleanse the chakras. And psychotherapists recommend choosing minerals of certain colors for relaxation or concentration, wearing them or considering:

• red will give vital activity;
• Orange will contribute to creativity;
• green - the color of patience, calm, self-sufficiency;
• blue minerals calm the nervous system and strengthen memory;
• blue tones relieve anger;
• purple - the color of magic and enchantment, mystery and creativity;
• purple help strengthen willpower;
• brown - the color of stability and poise;
• the black symbolizes birth and death;
• white - the color of pure thoughts.

During the procedures, lithotherapists prescribe the use of stones of certain colors. This helps one to improve sleep, while the other will cheer up. But experts say that you can’t wear such jewelry all the time: the stone should rest, so that the wearer does not have groundless fears and does not raise pressure.

Astrologers, feng shui and esotericists confidently say that chalcedony is a stone with great energy. It balances the vital flows, distributing them evenly. With this stone they cleanse the space of negative energy and fill it with pure power.

For seafarers, this symbol of the earth was a talisman for a safe return home. And chalcedony goblets helped to neutralize poisons that got along with wine. On some nations, it is customary for some peoples to give a piece of jewelry with a pink stone to his wife: it will help them survive the loss, drive sadness out of their hearts and find peace.

Women from ancient times used the mineral to attract men, calling it the "stone of love." It is believed that this stone is able to prolong youth and make any woman a beauty. And untreated chalcedony has always been considered a talisman of family happiness and mutual love. Laying pebbles at home, people drove away evil spirits from housing, and putting on amulets, they protected themselves and family members from an evil word and evil eye.

In theory, quartz is called chalcedony, which has light, pale shades of gray, blue, and lilac. But in reality there are many more varieties. Some of them are very similar, others can be confused with other minerals, because the stones can be white and ocher, reddish and emerald, bluish and honey. Here is a list of the most popular varieties of chalcedony.

Agate - these are layers of thin fibers having the entire palette of colors, varying degrees of transparency and density.Often in the composition there are other modifications of silicon dioxide: quartz, quartzine, moganite, opal. Due to the layering or specific pattern, agate has several types:

• bastion - from the cracks and layers creates the illusion of a drawing of a city landscape or the ruins of a bastion;
• Brazilian - with the thinnest layers of 1.5 micrometers;
• ligneous (dendritic) - with a pattern of forest thicket;
• disk;
• star-shaped;
• mossy - depicting northern moss on a light background;
• the black, used in the occult sciences.

“Fire Agate” is a red-orange opaque layered gem with bright impregnations of limonite. This agate is also called Mexican, because it is found only in the northern part of Mexico and in the southwestern United States - in the state of Arizona.

All these are varieties of gem that are very similar in appearance to chalcedony. But not all experts consider them as such. Indeed, not everyone will tell the difference between agate and jasper. Externally, these minerals are distinguished by the fact that at the edges the jasper is completely opaque, it can only be slightly visible on chips. When examined under a microscope, partially translucent jasper agates can be found. But agates are quite realistic to see through.

The color of jasper can range from pale yellow to rich gold, with an unusual pattern in the form of curls. But there is another kind of it - bloody jasper or heliotrope. It is saturated red or dark green in color, with bloody stripes, may have yellow spots. The stone is suitable for men and is used in men's jewelry. In the Middle Ages, church utensils were often made from it.

Usually, by this name they mean chalcedony of the porous structure of a milky white shade, resembling porcelain or milk opal. The gem is rare; it is a mixture of opal and chalcedony. Since the first and second silicas belong to quartz, the interpenetration is facilitated.

An amazing creation of nature interspersed with dendrites or filamentous inclusions of manganese, nickel or iron. Celadonite (milk opal) can also become an impurity in the mossovik. As a result, on a gray, gray-blue or milky-white chalcedony, plant landscapes appear in which you can see trees, moss or algae. They are easy to see, because the color can be very different: red and red, black and green, gray and brown, yellow and yellowish white.

The stone is similar to chrysoprase, but small inclusions of black chromite can be found in its structure. In the era of the Ancient World, the Morolith was well known to jewelers, but later became forgotten. And only in 1950, as a result of the development of deposits in Zimbabwe, the mineral regained its importance for jewelers. The modern name is associated with the place of development - the city of Mtoroshanga (Mutorashanga).

This is a striped decorative and ornamental gem. It is characterized by the alternation of the bands of chalcedony, quartz and other silicas. Hence the bright stripes of white-pink, red-brown, white-brown, red-black. Onyx is a variety of layered type agate. Jewelers are called onyxes and almost black chalcedony, in which layers can only be seen under a microscope. The mineral is transparent or translucent. It is best to observe the beauty of onyx in cameos and intalia.

This is the trade name for chalcedony of blue or light blue color (in mineralogy this term has a different meaning). Sapphirine is a rare translucent mineral. It has the property of fading at elevated temperatures.

Mineral in red colors.Sarder and Carneol - specimens with a predominance of brown, orange-brown, reddish-brown tones. Sardonyx is a striped red chalcedony. In the carnelian, red dominates with an admixture of yellow and brown colors. In the sun, the density of color gains saturation: shades of brown instantly turn into orange. Carnelian is considered the most popular chalcedony, moreover, inexpensive.

This variety is appreciated for its color: an admixture of nickel makes the mineral soft green or bluish green; chrome gives green shades. It may fade in the sun (to get the color back, you need to wrap the stone in a damp cloth). Jewelers who praise chrysoprase have divided it into three varieties:

• to higher homogeneous and saturated emerald green with transparency with a stone thickness of up to 5 cm;
• to first grade - homogeneous apple-green, translucent no more than 2 cm, the presence of whitish and non-translucent areas is possible;
• to the second grade pale spotted stone belongs, it is ornamental, may contain transparent and opaque areas of a bluish-green or yellow-green hue.

These are translucent minerals from chalcedony, quartz and lutecin. In the cavity of each such mineral is water that is several million years old. Engidros is very much appreciated not only by jewelers, but also by yoga and feng shui experts. Stones are able to purify water, and much faster than other minerals.

The minerals of the group of chalcedony are not precious jewelry stones, nevertheless, they are appreciated by jewelers - from chalcedony they make wonderful jewelry and crafts. Since the mineral is quite strong, it is very suitable for giving products of any shape. That is why, even during the time of Catherine the Great, the Imperial Palace had a large number of sculptures and columns from jasper.

Due to the huge color diversity, the mineral is used to create figurines, cups, mosaics, vases, inlaid furniture elements. Some types of chalcedony are suitable for interior decoration, cladding.

They make excellent countertops and sinks, lampshades for fixtures. Using this material, you can make a very beautiful frame for a mirror or picture. Mortar grinders are very popular with pharmacists.

If from the point of view of medicine and magic we covered the question, then nothing was said from astrology. We suggest figuring out which zodiac signs are recommended to wear chalcedony or keep it in sight.

According to astrologers, there are no signs to which this mineral is contraindicated. Only for some it will be just a decoration, and for others it will be a true friend and helper.

Gemini, Cancer and Sagittarius fell into the group of “favorites” of chalcedony.

• Twins this mineral will bring concentration and balance, help to set the right goals and achieve them.
• Cancer help to find your chosen one, create a strong and friendly family, protect from mistakes in family life related to interpersonal relationships.
• Sagittarius ideal energy compatibility with chalcedony, which gives confidence in their own actions, protects against self-flagellation, helps to achieve goals.

All other signs can also be safely worn with a mineral.

• Aries a heliotrope is suitable, which will drive away negative emotions and help manifest the best qualities. Aries and Pisces are also suitable for the character of jasper products.
• Capricorn it is better to acquire dark stones that have a beneficial effect on them. And multi-colored minerals will improve the financial situation.
• Lions red gems are needed - they will reveal the hidden potential, pacifying hot temper when resolving issues. Golden chalcedony promoted by Leo.
• Virgoborn in early autumn, green and yellow minerals are suitable, which will contribute to emotional and physical health. Also, Virgo and Libra are recommended pink and white jewelry.
• Yet Libra and Taurus blue minerals come up, they will make their owners think soundly and not chop off their shoulders.
• Aquarius it is best to purchase chrysoprase - it will serve as a charm from dangers. But in general, any chalcedony is suitable for Aquarius.
• Scorpio recommend choosing black minerals.

But chalcedony is the patron of not only most signs of the zodiac, he also “prefers” certain names. Without variety, this gem patronizes the following male and female names.

• Valeria. To preserve her family nest and develop true love, a lady with that name should use a gem amulet. Then harmony will come in her life.
• Inga. The mineral will help to overcome possible difficulties, protect from negative emotions, become a source of energy and will contribute to spiritual growth.
• Irina. A girl who wants to build a personal life, this stone is simply necessary. And living with him will be more joyful.
• Ksenia. With the acquisition of a beautiful stone, whether it be jewelry or crafts, longing will gradually leave the lady, the right goal will appear, and life will blossom with new colors.
• Oksana. The mineral will help to deal with gloomy thoughts and improve your mood.
• Sergey. Cufflinks, a ring, a pebble in your pocket or crafts on the desktop will help you calm down, not do stupid things, succumbing to emotions. Chalcedony for this name is a symbol of patience, courage, wisdom.

Most varieties of chalcedony are not expensive jewelry, and there is no point in faking them. But you don’t feel like buying glass or plastic instead of natural stone. If you are not sure about your own knowledge, ask for a certificate from a trading organization.

In appearance, chalcedony can be distinguished by the following criteria.

• Plastic is a warm and light material, the gem is heavier.
• Air bubbles and inclusions without staining come in the glass - this is uncharacteristic for natural gems.
• In a natural gem, symmetry is impossible. Everything can be very close to symmetry, but only artificial stone will be ideal.
• Since chalcedony has a porous structure, it is almost always interspersed with it. If you have a perfectly clean and transparent stone, then this is an unnatural chalcedony.
• The gem's color palette is very wide, but nevertheless artificial stones color more vividly. Nevertheless, this symptom must be checked in conjunction with others.
• A more sophisticated fake option is staining simple chalcedony with iron nitrate to resemble the rarer and more expensive carneol. Only on the chip can you see that the stone is painted atypically - no more than 2 millimeters from the thickness of the cabochon.
• When buying beads and bracelets, you should pay attention to the size and shape of gems: natural ones are valued for their naturalness, therefore they will not be perfectly even.
• Before buying crafts and jewelry, it would be nice to get acquainted with analogues by visiting an exhibition or browsing catalogs.

Each of us has things that are valuable not only in material investments. That is why we are trying to save as long as possible, and perhaps leave it to our descendants. For better preservation of the stone, experts recommend following some rules.

• Store chalcedony and its products separately, wrapped in a soft cloth or put in a case, to avoid mechanical damage to other stones.
• During exercise, remove rings, bracelets and other jewelry so as not to scratch.
• Protect from ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures, from this the minerals fade. To return the color, it is recommended to hold the product in a damp cloth in the dark.
• Protect from chemical attack, including cleaning agents.
• Clean the minerals with a soft cloth in a warm soapy solution, then rinse under running water.
• Avoid cleaning with steam and ultrasound.
• Avoid sudden changes in temperature.

To the question of how and what to wear, we managed to find the following answers.

• Charms from chalcedony should be worn so that no one sees them, ideally, the stone should touch the skin.
• Jewelers combine this mineral with emerald, golden topaz. And they do not recommend ordering jewelry, where opal, crystal, moonstone, coral, beryl, aquamarine will coexist with chalcedony. Intraspecific combinations are quite acceptable.
• But astrologers believe that stones should be selected according to the principle of compatibility of the elements: chalcedony is a stone of the Earth. This element is simply created for Water, is incompatible with Air and antagonizes with Fire. But our gem is a very self-sufficient mineral, so it is better to wear it separately from other stones.
• Use your intuition, determine how you feel next to the chalcedony, whether it is comfortable for you, whether it suits the character, color of eyes, skin, hair or clothes.
• When wearing jewelry, energy is exchanged, it is important that the stone not only stretches it, but also shares it. How it works is easy to feel: after a hard day, remove the jewelry and listen to yourself - if you feel much better, it means that only you shared energy.

About where chalcedony is used, its properties and location, see the next video.