mineral
Carnelian Agate
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Chalcedony with Iron Oxide impurities
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent orange to reddish-brown; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline/Trigonal; Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Translucent orange to reddish-brown
- Luster
- Waxy to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent orange to reddish-brown; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline/Trigonal; Cleavage: None, conchoidal fracture
Formation & geological history
Forms at low temperatures through the deposition of silica from groundwater inside cavities of volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Color comes from iron oxide impurities.
Uses & applications
Used widely in jewelry (beads, cabochons, carved intaglios), decorative carvings, and as a popular lapidary material for gemstone collectors.
Geological facts
Carnelian has been used for jewelry and seal rings for over 4,500 years, dating back to ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, and Roman civilizations.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its warm orange-red color, translucent quality, and waxy surface luster. Common in alluvial gravel deposits, basaltic regions, and desert pavements.
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