Different varieties of chalcedony began to be mined and used to create jewelry and household utensils many centuries ago. It is one of the first stones known to man.
Being a variety of quartz, chalcedony has many subspecies. All of them have similar properties, the main of which is their amazing appearance, thanks to which these stones make you want to turn them in your hands and look at them again and again. In addition, all varieties of chalcedony are quite heavy. In any case, they all deserve to be discussed in detail.
Not an exhaustive list
Specialists say that it is not easy to make a clear list of all varieties of this stone. It is known that the list will contain at least one hundred items. The most famous varieties are:
- Agate is a hard layered mineral, a variety of chalcedony, with a pattern in the form of horizontal and concentric stripes.
- Onyx - chalcedony with a pattern in the form of parallel straight stripes, less often - smoothly curved.
- Sapphirine is a mineral with a rich blue color.
- Carnelian is a favorite of jewelers chalcedony, colored evenlyin shades of orange, brown or red.
- Chrysoprase is an amazingly beautiful stone, a semi-precious variety of chalcedony, evenly colored apple green or bluish green.
- Heliotrope is a dark green mineral flecked with rich reds and yellows.
- Mirikit is a semi-precious stone, a variety of gray chalcedony, decorated with spots of red hues.
- Stefanik is an amazingly beautiful stone of white or light gray color, decorated with a scattering of red dots.
- Plasma is a rather rare variety, a stone of a dark green hue.
- Sarder is a mineral, a variety of chalcedony, a stone colored evenly in red-brown tones.
- Prazem is a light onion-green stone.
- Dendragat - chalcedony with a unique pattern reminiscent of a tree pattern.
There are other varieties of chalcedony. This list is far from complete and not final. It presents what attracts the most attention from specialists.
Where do stones come from
Chalcedony is mined almost all over the world. Varieties of stones are found in Canada and the USA, in Latin America and Africa. India is rich in chalcedony.
In Russia, these stones are mined in Siberia and Chukotka.
Deposits in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic are the oldest on the planet. Sometimes prospectors find just huge nuggets. Large size is not uncommon for this mineral.
Chalcedony in jewelry
Quality stones have long been loved by jewelers. Absolutely all varieties of chalcedony are opaque. Those that have a uniform color, similar to a thick liquid, are of the greatest interest. For example, carnelian has been used by jewelers to create exquisite jewelry for hundreds of years. These stones are considered semi-precious, however, they also happen to act in tandem with gold, platinum, diamonds.
The beauty of carnelian was sung by Byron. He was struck by the deep gray color of the mineral and its hazy glow. No less valuable for jewelers are agates, christoprases, and onyxes.
Jewellery
Varieties of chalcedony are also used to create jewelry. Moreover, both on an industrial scale and in craftsmanship.
Today, many masters work with chalcedony. These stones do not need to be cut - their charismatic irregular shape and intricate pattern are beautiful in themselves. All this gives the stones a unique charm. Simply polished saw cuts are often used to create wonderful jewelry. Polished pieces of stone have high decorative properties. This is especially true for those varieties that have an unusual pattern and color.
Decor elements
Decorators also fell in love with this stone. It is easy to work with, it does not chip, does not crack and lends itself perfectly to a grinder and cutter. Figurines, accessories, ritual paraphernalia, all kinds of decorative elements are made from chalcedony.
Some of them can be called art objects, not just beautiful crafts.
In addition, chalcedony sometimes becomes a material for creating decorative tiles, countertops, vases, sinks and much more. Details from this mineral are incredibly beautiful in the form of inlay inserts.
Varieties of chalcedony in astrology
For centuries, people have believed that minerals have mystical properties. The chalcedony was no exception. He was believed to have mystical powers.
Today, astrologers also attribute a number of properties to it. For example, it is believed that this mineral belongs to the sign of Virgo. Astrologers claim that it is most useful for those who were born on the 18th and 22nd lunar days. It is also believed that this mineral patronizes those born under the sign of Sagittarius.
Chalcedony is cured?
Since ancient times, a number of healing properties have been attributed to these stones. For some reason, agate has always been considered especially mystical. Lithotherapists prescribe wearing chalcedony to those who suffer from nervous exhaustion, depression, sleep disorders.
Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence for the fact that chalcedony heals. However, this applies to the therapeutic effect of absolutely all stones. In any case, no serious research has been done on this topic.
However, one cannot argue with the fact that a necklace or bracelet with intricate stones, presented to a tired and upset woman, can significantly improve her mood? If you like chalcedony -be sure to get at least a small trinket with this cute gem. May she bring joy.
How to spot a fake
Before you buy, pay attention to some important points. Chalcedony is easily affected. For example, they can change color to almost any other. They absorb paint well, completely changing the shade and at the same time maintaining transitions from dark to light tones. Heating to high temperatures also affects the color. From some rocks, stones very similar to carnelian can be obtained in this way.
Sometimes it looks really good. But true connoisseurs prefer the natural palette. In addition, unscrupulous sellers often simply hide this fact.
The photo above shows colored chalcedony. And if some of them look more or less believable, then hot pink ones are more like plastic.
Another type of forgery is also widespread. For example, a variety of chalcedony, which jewelers call "grapes", is highly valued. Nuggets are a cluster of red-brown balls and have high decorative properties. For the purpose of falsification, grinders simply grind such a shape from a low-quality rock, passing it off as a natural original. This phenomenon is especially widespread in the Far East.
And, of course, don't forget the certificate. In most cases, this is a sufficient guarantee of quality.
Selection rules
In order not to doubt the quality of the purchase, treat itcarefully and responsibly. Remember that natural stone cannot be perfectly even. This applies to both shape and color. Screaming shades are a sign of a fake. And just coloring natural gems is not the only way to cheat! The stone can generally be made of plastic or glass.
All varieties of chalcedony have a low temperature. If you take a nugget in your hand, it will not heat up for a long time. And he has a relatively large weight. It is significantly heavier than plastic and glass.
Chalcedony care
Buying natural stone isn't everything. Absolutely all chalcedony needs care. Varieties of green stones, for example, are afraid of high temperatures. And ultrasonic cleaning is contraindicated in black.
There are also general rules for all minerals. Chalcedony jewelry should not be stored in bulk, because the stones can be damaged by the sharp edges of more durable gems. It is recommended to remove jewelry during sports - exposure to sweat adversely affects this stone. In no case should chalcedony be cleaned with acetone, alcohol, or aggressive chemicals. Their wonderful coloring may suffer from this. And the noble translucency will turn into a banal turbidity.
If the product is dirty, it is best to clean it with a soap solution and cotton wool. After completion of the procedure, traces of the solution must be carefully washed off with running water.
