Chalcedony: deposits, properties, types and applications

The translucent mineral, which is a type of quartz, has been well known since ancient times. Today chalcedony is one of the most demanded ornamental stones. Jewelers love it for the variety of colors and shades. He is appreciated by alternative medicine and astrology. Let's try to figure out why this mineral is still so popular.

Thanks to the ancient Greeks, mankind learned a lot of new things. So 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 Chalcedon (the territory of modern Istanbul), a nugget of an unusually beautiful color palette was discovered. The stone was also named after the place where it was found.

For the Greeks, this became the will of the gods, because it was they who were recognized as the best craftsmen in the processing of precious and semi-precious stones, but there were no mining sites of their own. It is these natural resources that have often been the cause of wars. And here is such a gift - a deposit of chalcedony, from which you can cut jewelry and more significant figures.

It was this mineral that laid the foundation for a new form of jewelry art called glyptics. Until now, ancient Greek gems, cameos on cabochons depicting animals and birds, reliefs and bas-reliefs describing the life of people, seals are known all over the world.

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

Chalcedony again attracted the attention of masters and the mighty of this world: 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 a friend, poet and collector of minerals Maximilian Voloshin.

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

With penetration into the mineral of goethite, chalcedony turns yellow, hematite - red. Pyrite, manganese oxides or organic compounds impart a bluish gray or black color. And each field will have its own color.

Chalcedony is not uncommon, therefore it is widespread. Being a type of quartz, the 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 coexist so closely that one stone can contain both sarder and carnelian. Perhaps the neighborhood of variations on the territory of one mine, but most often one type of chalcedony is mined in the deposit.

Germany is famous for the oldest developed deposits. Mineral is also mined in Brazil, India, Madagascar, Uruguay, USA, Italy, Sri Lanka, Poland, Czech Republic, Australia, Canada, Scotland, Ukraine. There are deposits on the territory of Russia in the Transcaucasia, the Primorsky Territory, in Chukotka and Kolyma, in the Urals and in the Crimea, Eastern Siberia and the Moscow region.

It is important for a person buying a stone to know what qualities a mineral has that can affect health and psycho-emotional state. But they depend on the physical and chemical properties of the mineral. Therefore, let's 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. Hundreds of varieties of chalcedony have similar physical and chemical properties, which unites them:

• it is a fairly hard mineral (on the Mohs scale it is estimated at 6.5-7 points);
• in terms of density, it belongs to the middle group (2.58-2.64 g / cm³);
• in terms of transparency, it is cloudy or translucent;
• by gloss - waxy or matte;
• when cleaved, it shows itself to be more fragile than quartz;
• at the break - uneven;
• properties largely depend on impurities.

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

• agate helps with coughs and toothaches;
• heliotrope is responsible for the work of the heart and blood vessels;
• sarder has a wound healing effect: it restores the skin as a result of mechanical or surgical intervention, fights ulcers, is a means of combating infertility;
• nature created sapphirine for hypotonic patients, as well as for those who need to normalize the work of the heart;
• carnelian is considered a hemostatic agent, relieves toothache, improves the general condition of the skin;
• onyx helps in the functioning of the liver and kidneys;
• chrysoprase makes life easier for meteosensitive 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, fever and skin diseases were treated with chalcedony, in the Middle Ages they tried to get rid of dysentery with mineral powder. Today, in the countries of the East, toothpicks made of yellow chalcedony whiten teeth and strengthen the gums. But most often, modern lithotherapists use minerals of this group to treat nervous disorders. For treatment, stones must be worn as jewelry, attend stone therapy sessions (stone therapy) 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 feels relaxation, the outgoing heat penetrates under the skin and saturates the body with oxygen, forcing the blood flow to accelerate. This helps relieve pain.

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

• Red will give vitality;
• Orange will promote creativity;
• green - the color of patience, calmness, self-sufficiency;
• blue minerals calm the nervous system and strengthen memory;
• blue tones relieve anger;
• purple - the color of magic and magic, mystery and creativity;
• purple will help to strengthen willpower;
• Brown - color of stability and poise;
• black symbolizes birth and death;
• White - the color of pure thoughts.

When carrying out procedures, lithotherapists prescribe using stones of certain colors... For some it helps to improve sleep, for others it will cheer up. But experts say that it is impossible to wear such jewelry all the time: the stone must rest so that the wearer does not have groundless fears and the pressure does not rise.

Astrologers, feng shui experts and esotericists confidently say that chalcedony is a stone with tremendous energy. He balances the streams of life, distributing them evenly. This stone is used to cleanse the space of negative energy and fill it with pure power.

For sailors, this symbol of the land was a talisman for a safe return home. Chalcedony cups also helped neutralize the poisons that got along with the wine. It is customary among some peoples to give jewelry with a pink stone to his wife on the day of a man's funeral: it will help to survive the loss, drive out sadness from the heart and find peace.

Since ancient times, women have 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. By spreading pebbles at home, people drove away evil spirits from their homes, and putting on amulets, protected themselves and family members from the evil word and evil eye.

In theory, chalcedony is called quartz, which has light, pale shades of gray, blue, 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-colored. Here is a list of the most popular varieties of chalcedony.

Agate is layers of thin fibers that have the entire palette of colors, varying degrees of transparency and density.Often, other modifications of silicon dioxide are present in the composition: quartz, quartz, moganite, opal. Due to its layering or specific pattern, agate has several types:

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

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

All these are varieties of gem, which outwardly are very similar to chalcedony. But not all experts consider them as such. Indeed, not everyone can tell the difference between agate and jasper. Outwardly, these minerals differ in that at the edges jasper is completely opaque, only it can be weakly translucent on the chips. Upon closer examination 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 curl pattern. But there is another variety of it - blood jasper or heliotrope. It is deep red or dark green in color, with bloody streaks, and 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, this name means chalcedony of a porous structure of a milky-white hue, reminiscent of porcelain or milky opal. A rare gem, it is a mixture of opal with chalcedony. Since the first and second silicas are quartz, the interpenetration is facilitated.

A stunning creation of nature interspersed with dendrites or filamentary inclusions of manganese, nickel or iron. Celadonite (milk opal) can also become an impurity in the flywheel. As a result, plant landscapes appear on gray, gray-blue or milky-white chalcedony, 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 its structure may contain small inclusions of black chromite. In the era of the Ancient World, mtorolite was well known to jewelers, but later it became forgotten. It was only in 1950, as a result of the development of deposits in Zimbabwe, that the mineral regained 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 alternating bands of chalcedony itself, quartz and other silicas. Hence the bright stripes of white-pink, red-brown, white-brown, red-black. Onyx is a type of layered agate. Jewelers call onyx and almost black chalcedony, in which the 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 intaglios.

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

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

This variety is valued for its color: an admixture of nickel makes the mineral pale green or bluish green; chrome gives green hues. It can fade in the sun (for the color to return, you need to wrap the stone in a damp cloth). Jewelers who appreciate chrysoprase have divided it into three varieties:

• to higher is homogeneous and rich emerald green with transparency with a stone thickness of up to 5 cm;
• to the 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 a pale spotted stone belongs to, it is ornamental, it may contain transparent and opaque areas of a bluish-green or yellow-green hue.

These are translucent minerals from chalcedony, quartz and lutecin. The cavity of each such mineral contains water that is several million years old. Enydros is highly valued not only by jewelers, but also by yoga and feng shui experts. Stones are capable of purifying water, and much faster than other minerals.

Minerals of the chalcedony group are not precious gemstones; nevertheless, jewelers appreciate them - wonderful jewelry and handicrafts are made from chalcedony. Since the mineral is quite durable, it is very suitable for giving products to any shape. That is why, even during the time of Catherine the Great, there were a large number of sculptures and columns made of jasper in the Imperial Palace.

Due to the huge variety of colors, the mineral is used to create figurines, cups, mosaics, vases, inlaid pieces of furniture. Some types of chalcedony are suitable for interior decoration, room cladding.

They make excellent countertops and sinks, lamp shades for lamps. With the help of this material, you can make a very beautiful frame for a mirror or picture. Mortars for grinding ingredients are very popular with pharmacists.

If from the point of view of medicine and magic we covered the issue, then from the side of astrology nothing has been said yet. We propose to figure out which signs of the zodiac are recommended to wear chalcedony or keep it in sight.

According to astrologers, there are no signs that this mineral is contraindicated. Only for some it will be just an ornament, and for others - a faithful friend and helper.

The group of "favorites" of chalcedony includes Gemini, Cancer and Sagittarius.

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

All other signs can also wear the mineral without fear.

• Aries heliotrope is suitable, which will drive away negative emotions and help to manifest the best qualities. Also, Aries and Pisces are suitable for the nature of jasper products.
• Capricorn it is better to acquire dark stones that have a beneficial effect on them. And multi-colored minerals will improve your financial situation.
• Lions red gems are needed - they will reveal hidden potential, pacifying irascibility when solving issues. Golden chalcedony promotes Leo in the service.
• VirgoBorn in early fall, green and yellow minerals are good for your emotional and physical health. Also, Virgo and Libra are recommended pink and white jewelry.
• Yet Libra and Taurus blue minerals are suitable, they will make their owners think sensibly and not chop off the shoulder.
• Aquarius it is best to buy chrysoprase - it will serve as a talisman against dangers. But in general, any chalcedony is suitable for Aquarius.
• Scorpio recommend choosing black minerals.

But chalcedony is not only the patron saint of most signs of the zodiac, it also "prefers" some names. Without dividing into varieties, this gem protects the following male and female names.

• Valeria. To preserve her family nest and develop true love, a lady with this name should use a gem amulet. Then harmony will come in her life.
• Inga... The mineral will help to overcome possible difficulties, protect against negative emotions, become a source of energy and will contribute to spiritual growth.
• Irina... For a girl who wants to build her personal life, this stone is simply necessary. And it will be more joyful to live with him.
• Ksenia... With the acquisition of a beautiful stone, whether it be a decoration or a craft, the longing will gradually leave the lady, the right goal will appear, and life will bloom with new colors.
• Oksana... The mineral will help to deal with sad thoughts and improve your mood.
• Sergey... Cufflinks, a ring, a pebble in your pocket or a craft on your 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 I don't want to buy glass or plastic instead of natural stone either. If you are unsure of your own knowledge, ask for a certificate from a dealer.

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

• Plastic is a warm and light material, a gem is heavier.
• Air bubbles and inclusions without staining come across 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 almost always contains inclusions. If you have a perfectly clean and transparent stone in front of you, then this is an unnatural chalcedony.
• The color palette of the gem is very wide, but still artificial stones paint more brightly. Nevertheless, this sign must be checked in conjunction with others.
• A more complex counterfeit option is staining simple chalcedony with iron nitrate to resemble the rarer and more expensive carnelian. Only on the cleavage one can see that the stone is painted over 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, so they will not be perfectly even.
• Before buying crafts and jewelry, it would be nice to familiarize yourself with analogs by visiting an exhibition or looking through catalogs.

Each of us has things that are valuable not only for material investments.That is why we try to preserve it as long as possible, and, possibly, leave it to our descendants. For greater safety of the stone, experts recommend following some rules.

• Store chalcedony and products made from it separately, wrapped in a soft cloth or put in a case, to avoid mechanical damage to other stones.
• Remove rings, bracelets, and other jewelry during exercise to avoid scratching.
• Protect from ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures, this will fade minerals. To regain 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 and warm soapy water and then rinse under running water.
• Eliminate steam and ultrasonic cleaning.
• Avoid sudden changes in temperature.

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

• Chalcedony charms should be worn so that no one can see 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 the 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 best to wear it separately from other stones.
• Use your intuition, decide how you feel around chalcedony, whether you are comfortable, whether it suits your character, eye color, skin color, hair or clothing.
• While wearing jewelry, energy is exchanged, it is important that the stone not only draws it out, but also shares it. How it works is easy to feel: after a hard day, take off the jewelry and listen to yourself - if it becomes much easier for you, then only you shared the energy.

For information on where chalcedony is used, its properties and locations, see the next video.