gemstone
Carnelian
SiO2 (variety of chalcedony quartz)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectMohs hardness of 6.5 to 7; color ranges from orange to reddish-brown; vitreous to waxy luster; microcrystalline trigonal structure; conchoidal fracture with no cleavage; specific gravity of 2.60 to 2.65.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7; color ranges from orange to reddish-brown; vitreous to waxy luster; microcrystalline trigonal structure; conchoidal fracture with no cleavage; specific gravity of 2.60 to 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms in low-temperature hydrothermal environments and cavities of volcanic rocks, often through the deposition of silica-rich groundwater over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, carved into intaglios and cameos, and collected as a popular decorative gemstone.
Geological facts
Carnelian was prized in ancient Egypt as a stone representing the renewal of life and was frequently placed in tombs to protect the dead in the afterlife.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its translucent orange-to-red coloration and waxy luster; commonly sourced from India, Brazil, Uruguay, and the United States.
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