gemstone
Carnelian
Quartz (SiO2, variety carnelian)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, orange to brownish-red color, vitreous to waxy luster, and microcrystalline trigonal crystal structure.
Identified More gemstone →
Explore Carnelian in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, orange to brownish-red color, vitreous to waxy luster, and microcrystalline trigonal crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Forms in low-temperature hydrothermal environments and cavities of volcanic rocks through the deposition of silica-rich groundwater.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, cabochons, beads, and carved into intaglios or signet rings since antiquity.
Geological facts
Ancient Egyptians prized carnelian for amulets representing the journey to the afterlife, often placing them in tombs.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive translucent orange-red hue and conchoidal fracture; commonly sourced from India, Brazil, and Madagascar.
More like this
Other gemstone specimens
Ammolite
Ammolite (Biogenic Aragonite with trace elements; fossils of Placenticeras meeki and Placenticeras intercalare)
mineral
Gemstone Ring
N/A - Set piece of jewelry, likely Amethyst or Garnet with Diamond or CZ
gemstone
Topaz
Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
mineral
Amber
Succinite (Organic Gemstone)
mineral
Diamond and Gold Jewelry
Carbon (Diamond) / Au (Gold)
gemstone
Red Jasper
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Hematite inclusions
sedimentary