gemstone
Carnelian
Silicon Dioxide (Variety of Chalcedony, SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, orange to reddish-brown color, vitreous to waxy luster, microcrystalline trigonal structure, specific gravity of 2.60 to 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, orange to reddish-brown color, vitreous to waxy luster, microcrystalline trigonal structure, specific gravity of 2.60 to 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed in low-temperature hydrothermal environments and groundwater deposition within cavities of pre-existing rocks.
Uses & applications
Widely used in jewelry, cabochons, beads, and carved into signet rings or talismans throughout history.
Geological facts
Ancient Egyptians associated carnelian with the sunset and used it to protect the dead in the afterlife. It gets its characteristic reddish hue from iron oxide impurities.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive orange-red coloration, conchoidal fracture, and waxy luster. Commonly sourced from India, Brazil, and Uruguay.
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