Chalcedony Silver
Carnelian – the Happy, Protective Gemstone in Today’s Fashion Jewelry
Carnelian is a translucent, orangey-red chalcedony sometimes found in yellowish tones and white, frequently with two combined. Sunlight can sometimes make these colors more vivid. However, the effect of artificial light is distinctly lesser. It has a specific gravity of about 2.7 and a hardness of about 7. It is closely related to sard, differing only in the shade of red. Carnelian is composed of Silicon Dioxide, SiO2, and gets its red color from Hematite (Iron-Oxide, FeO2) impurities. Brazil, Uruguay, India and Japan have reported some of the largest finds of carnelian. Finds of lesser importance have been identified in Texas, Colorado, and Florida.
The color and relatively low cost of carnelian makes it a popular gemstone for fashion jewelry such as silver pendants and necklaces. There are an infinite number of colors, shades, and patterns of this stone found in nature. This variety means that carnelian can be incorporated into a wide range of fashion jewelry, combining different focal stones in numerous precious and base metal settings. This fascination with carnelian in jewelry is not new. Carnelian has held a strong presence in the history of the world. It has been found in some of the oldest known jewelry, inlaid into the robes of Pu-Abi, a Sumerian Queen from the third millennium, B.C, among Egyptian tombs, in the breastplate of High Priest Aaron and in many other ancient cultures. One of its most popular uses was by the Romans. They used the stone for cameos, intaglios and as seal rings for imprinting seals with wax on correspondence and documents. Today, stone beads made with carnelian are found in a beautiful mix of natural exquisiteness and fine handcrafting, and continue to be quite popular. As these beads are carved, extreme care is crucial to ensure that its beauty would be intact. It is typically prepared with a cabochon cut (a smooth rounded cut) in order to bring out the natural elegance and color patterns of the stone. In some cases, beads are subjected to a facet-cut in order to promote sparkle in the gemstone. Carnelian is sometimes heat-treated or dyed in order to enhance its color.
Carnelian is considered to be the perfect stone for stimulating the circulatory system, kidneys, appetite, emotions, and sexuality. It bestows confidence, assertiveness, and an unstoppable drive to succeed, and is believed to promote happiness, creativity, steadfastness, confidence, courage, analytical power and assertiveness, and helps one to achieve greater success in career and personal matters. This stone has been mentioned in Arabic, Hebrew, and Roman folklore. These civilizations believed that it protected the wearer in the after-life, and from evil spirits. This stone has also been popular with European and Asian civilizations.
About the Author
Dale is a geo-professional in the Southwestern United States, and an avid and amateur gemmologist and a jewelry buff.
What would you consider to be the most basic dozen minerals that are “essentials” for a beginning collector?
My list, based on consideration of both abundant occurrence in the crust and popularity in the market is as follows, having as well a balance between metals and ores and minerals considered non-metals:
(NON-METALS) in order of importance
1. any of the feldspars (either potassium, satisfied by having amazonite, or plagioclase, met by including labradorite)
2. quartz (crystalline: “rock crystal,” smoky quartz, citrine, hematite-included, etc.)
3. chalcedony (a bird’s nest type or any agate, aventurine, jasper, flint, etc.)
4. calcite (dogtooth, rhombohedral, or any variety including the massive bright colored type)
5. gypsum (alabaster or selenite or desert rose etc.)
6. fluorite (any specimen that distinctly displays the isometric system, preferrably very fluorescent)
METALS/ORES (in no particular order)
7. pyrite
8. galena
9. chalcopyrite
10. copper
11. silver
12. gold
Careful… I still remember “Old socks, all in cotton, sewn by mother please.” This verbalized acronym lists the most abundant elements (but not rocks/minerals).
The 8 most common elements in Earth’s crust (by mass):
46.6% Oxygen (O) (Any oxide, Calcite has oxygen, so does gypsum)
27.7% Silicon (Si) (any Quartz mineral including chalcedony which is simply cryptocrystalline quartz)
8.1% Aluminum (Al) (A piece of bauxite would be nice, but any piece of beryl would do too)
5.0% Iron (Fe) (Pyrite has Iron)
3.6% Calcium (Ca) (Calcite again)
2.8% Sodium (Na) A chunk of halite is nice but it tends to disintegrate due to moisture)
2.6% Potassium (K) Amazonite is a Potassium Aluminum Silicate
2.1% Magnesium (Mg) Dolomite (Ca+Mg Carbonate)
Still, I like your list though again be careful with the double quartz based specimens.
Since you mention minerals, that removes “rocks” so here would be my list:
Calcite
Quartz
Mica
Dolomite
Gypsum
Hematite
Magnetite
Fluorite
Malachite
Native Copper
Pyrite
and a huge gold nugget. (They all should be inexpensive except for the last one, but you might find one in your back yard).
Nicky Butler Green Chalcedony Sterling Silver Art Deco R…
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Fancy 925 Sterling Silver Faceted Chalcedony Dangle Earrings A84 $3.90 |
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Large Fancy 925 Sterling Silver Blue Chalcedony Dangle Earrings A84 $6.30 |
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7/8″ ROUND CHALCEDONY GEMS 925 SILVER pendant $23.95 |
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NATURAL CHALCEDONY GEMSTONE ROUND SILVER PLATED PENDANT $0.99 |
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NATURAL YELLOW CHALCEDONY GEM SZ 7.75 RING 925 SILVER PLATED OVER SOLID COPPER $0.99 |
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1″ CUTE CHALCEDONY GEMS 925 STERLING SILVER pendant $13.95 |
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Silver Purple Lace Chalcedony Pendant Bead Q218948 $3.99 |
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Silver Purple Lace Chalcedony Pendant Bead Q218946 $3.99 |
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Silver Purple Lace Chalcedony Pendant Bead Q218950 $3.99 |
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Sz 8.25 100% Solid .925 Silver Natural Blue Chalcedony Gemstone Ring Stamped 925 $0.99 |
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YELLOW CHALCEDONY GEMSTONE FLAT OVAL SILVER PLATED PENDANT $0.99 |
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10CT VINTAGE NATURAL CHALCEDONY STERLING SILVER RING 12 $99.00 |
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Hawaiian Plumeria Flower – Angel Blue – beaded flower bobby pin $54.99 A beautiful beaded plumeria flower professionally handmade using hundreds of tiny angel blue (also known as sky or baby blue) glass beads; strung and stitched one bead at a time. Securely attached to a new silver plated bobby pin. The flower measures about 2.5 inches. (6cm) © 2008-2012 … |
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Hawaiian Plumeria Flower – Turquoise Green – beaded flower bobby pin $54.99 A beautiful beaded plumeria flower professionally handmade using hundreds of tiny turquoise colored glass beads; strung and stitched one bead at a time. The flower measures about 2.5 inches. (6cm) © 2008-2012 Heart in Hawaii… |
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Franki Baker Blue-Green Aqua Chalcedony and Silver Cufflinks $71.00 This is a simple classic cuff link. The blue-green aqua chalcedony gemstone is shown off to perfection in this 925 sterling silver setting. An ideal gift. Closes with a swiveling bar.Franki Baker is an up and coming jewellery brand based in the Scottish Highlands, offering over 600 designs in a wide range of different styles. You will find that special piece for all occasions: the office, lunch… |
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Franki Baker Blue-Green Aqua Chalcedony and Silver Cufflinks $76.00 Beautiful blue-green aqua chalcedony gemstones in a cabochon cut in these ‘T-bar’ 925 sterling silver cuff links. Ideal gift.Franki Baker is an up and coming jewellery brand based in the Scottish Highlands, offering over 600 designs in a wide range of different styles. You will find that special piece for all occasions: the office, lunch with friends, weddings, holidays or the Oscars! Franki has … |
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Apt. No 5 Silver Seychelle Necklace with Blue Chalcedony A large briolette drop of blue chalcedony is surrounded by a sterling silver hammered teardrop. Sensual and dramatic, the Seychelle necklace is a stunning statement piece…. |
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Silver Plated Blue Chalcedony Pendant Heart – Ladies Necklace Charm (1.25 inch) $9.95 This necklace charm makes a great gift for the special person in your life! A beautiful stone set with a bright silver pendant will be sure to catch anyone’s attention!Spacious hook to slide onto almost any chain. Crisp colored stoneNecklace chain not includedMeasures 1.25″ long… |
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Silver Plated Blue Chalcedony Pendant Heart – Ladies Necklace Charm (1.5 inch) $9.95 This necklace charm makes a great gift for the special person in your life! A beautiful stone set with a bright silver pendant will be sure to catch anyone’s attention!Spacious hook to slide onto almost any chain. Crisp colored stoneNecklace chain not includedMeasures 1.5″ long… |
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Chalcedony Keychain 01 Green Laughing Buddha Silver Key Ring Fob Stone God 3.2 $25.00 Genuine Chalcedony hangs from your new crystal healing keychain. This is a translucent, dyed green Chalcedony stone carved into a Laughing Buddha. The god hang from a silver plated chain on a sturdy key ring…. |
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