Carnelian Value, Price, and Jewelry Informa on

By Hyperdeath (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

The best-known and generally least expensive variety of chalcedony is carnelian. It ranges in color from yellow-orange to rich, near reddish orange, to orang
brown, and varies from semi-opaque to highly translucent.

Carnelian Value
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Carnelian Informa on
DATA VALUE

Name Carnelian

Is a Variety of Chalcedony

Crystallography  Hexagonal, microcrystalline.

Refrac ve Index  1.535 to 1.539

Colors  Red, orange

Fracture  Uneven

Hardness  6.5 - 7

Specific Gravity  2.58-2.64

Birefringence  0.004

Cleavage  None

Dispersion  None.
 DATA VALUE

Luminescence  Blue-white

Wearability  Very Good

Enhancements  Hea ng.

Transparency  Translucent to opaque

Formula SiO2

Pleochroism  Absent.

Op cs  Uniaxial (+).

The best-known and generally least expensive variety of chalcedony is carnelian. It ranges in color from yellow-orange to rich, near reddish orange, to orang
brown, and varies from semi-opaque to highly translucent. Iron is the source of its color and as a result it can be easily heat treated, (even by the sun’s heat
to darken red tones as the iron is oxidized. You should assume, unless informed otherwise, that any piece of carnelian has been enhanced in this way.

Sources

Most commercial carnelian comes from India, but it is mined world wide. Gem-quality sources also include Brazil, Egypt, and Uruguay.

By Hyperdeath (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-

SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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