Chalcedony

Description

Microcrystalline vs. Crystalline Quartz

Chalcedony is the general name for all varieties of microcrystalline quartz. While all types of quartz have the same chemical makeup, quartz may have either a microcrystalline form, where crystals are so small that they cannot be seen without some kind of visual aid, or a crystalline form, where crystals are large enough to be seen with the human eye.

All varieties of microcrystalline quartz are generally referred to as chalcedony; however the term chalcedony also refers specifically to a particularly fine variety of blue chalcedony.

A hard, durable gemstone, chalcedony may be cloudy, translucent or opaque, with a waxy luster like a polished candle.

Varieties of Chalcedony

Some varieties of chalcedony are agate, carnelian, chrysoprase, and onyx. Jasper is a special variety of chalcedony that due to its high content of foreign materials is usually quite opaque.

Folklore

In Victorian Times, dreaming of chalcedony foretold of friends rejoined.

Symbolism

Hour: 8:00 pm

Birthstone, pre-1900, Arabic:  June
Birthstone, pre-1900, Jewish:  May
Birthstone, pre-1900, Polish:  June
Birthstone, pre-1900, Russian: June

Wedding anniversary, pre-1900: 39th

Apostle: Andrew

Star: Tail of Capricorn 15º of Aquarius

Planet: Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn
 
Countries: Norway and Sweden

See also

agate, carnelian, chrysoprase, fossil, jasper and quartz