Chalcedony Value, Price, and Jewelry Informa on

Strictly speaking, most chalcedony (kal SED' uh nee) is a mixture of microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz and moganite. (Some specimens of this mate
free of moganite). In common prac ce, only the translucent, single-color types of this material are sold under the name “chalcedony.” The rest of this group
sold under individual variety names or as agate or jasper. Although the defini ons of these types overlap, agate is defined either by its translucency, color p
or inclusions. Jasper usually refers to an opaque, solid colored stone stained by oxides.

Chalcedony Value
General high value points for all chalcedonies would be strong color satura on and high translucence. The value of varie es such as agate and carnelian is m
func on of the beauty of their cu ng than the material itself.

The Interna onal Gem Society (IGS) has a list of businesses offering gemstone appraisal services.

Agate Value via Gem Price Guide

Cabochons All Sizes

Agate $.50 to   /ct

Fire Agate    to   /ct

Blue Chalcedony    to   /ct

See the en re Gem Price Guide.

Start an IGS Membership today for full access to our price guide (updated monthly).
See Plans and Pricing

Chrysoprase Value via Gem Price Guide

Cabochons All sizes

   to   /ct

See the en re Gem Price Guide.

Start an IGS Membership today for full access to our price guide (updated monthly).
See Plans and Pricing
Chalcedony Informa on
DATA VALUE

Name Chalcedony

Is a Variety of Quartz

Varie es Agate, Fire Agate, Iris Agate, Binghamite, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Chrome-Chalcedony, Chrysocolla Chalcedony, Chrysoprase, Jasper, Dallasite, Orbicular Jas
Plasma, Onyx, Sardonyx, Petrified Wood, Pietersite, Sard

Crystallography  Hexagonal, microcrystalline.

Refrac ve Index  1.540-1.553

Colors  All

Luster  Waxy to dull.

Polish Luster  Greasy to vitreous.

Fracture Luster  Waxy to dull.

Fracture  Conchoidal, granular

Hardness  7

Specific Gravity  2.55-2.91

Birefringence  0.004-0.009

Cleavage  None

Dispersion  None.

Heat Sensi vity No

Luminescence  Varies widely in cryptocrystalline quartz due to traces of impuri es.

Wearability  Excellent

Enhancements  Dyeing: common, stable. Detected by appearance, spectrum, or Chelsea filter. Hea ng changes color, common, stable, undetectable.

Special Care None

Instruc ons

Transparency  Transparent to opaque

Absorp on Dyed green gems show weak lines at 6450 and 6700 nm. Dyed blue gems at 6270, 6660, and 6900. Others not diagnos c.
Spectrum 

Phenomena  Chatoyancy, iridescence.

Iden fying Dyed blue and green gems show pink in Chelsea filter.
Characteris cs 

Formula SiO2

Pleochroism  None.

Op cs  o = 1.540; e = 1.553. Uniaxial (+).

Etymology May refer to the ancient seaport of Chalcedon, now located in Istanbul, Turkey.

Occurrence Deposits in a wide variety of environments. Nodules, veins, crusts.

 “Order Up,” faceted chalcedony and brass plate, by bird&monster. is licensed under CC By-ND 2.0

Comments
The colors of chalcedonies are a result of metallic impuri es (such as iron, nickel, copper, and tanium) present during crystalliza on. Unstained material is o
grayish blue. Chalcedony is a tough gemstone, good for all jewelry applica ons. Pieces are usually cabbed or carved, although an excep onal, near transpar
piece may be faceted.

Varie es of Chalcedony
See the gem lis ngs for agate and jasper for detailed informa on on those types of chalcedonies.

Blue Chalcedony
This material is the darling of some gem carvers and jewelry designers because of its varied and ethereal blue colors.

The color varie es are generally designated by place names. They vary in depth of blue color and the degree to which the blue is modified by gray or pink h
an overall group, blue chalcedony varies from pale to medium tones and in degree of translucency. Some pieces have a slight adularescence that enhances t
value. This phenomenon is due to light interference from layers of microscopic inclusions. The effect is like a shimmering, floa ng, interior light.
 “Pale blue ~ 30 Ellensburg Blue ring,” blue chalcedony, by Upupa4me is licensed under
CC By-SA 2.0

“Mohave” and “Mt. Airy” blues originate in California and Nevada, respec vely, and are slightly to moderately grayish blue with a light to medium color rang

Blue chalcedony from Namibia, o en called “African Blue,” varies from grayish to nearly pure blue and from light to medium dark.

The most unusual type, and arguably the most valuable, is from Oregon. Its blues are modified by slight to moderate amounts of pink, making a no ceably l
gem. Nonetheless, it’s called “Holly Blue.”

Carnelian
Translucent to semi-opaque, red, orange-red, or brownish chalcedony.
 “Carnelian” by Jarno is licensed under CC By 2.0

Sard
Similar to carnelian, but with a brownish tone. Its transparency ranges from slightly translucent to opaque.

Prase
Green, or yellowish green chalcedony.

Plasma
A dark green variety, frequently found with white or yellowish spots. Plasma is opaque due to densely packed ac nolite crystals. Bloodstone, or heliotrope,
plasma with red and orange spots of iron oxide.

Onyx
A chalcedony with straight bands of colors. Black onyx has black and white layers. It occurs in nature in thin bands. What you find in the stores is almost alw
dyed. Sardonyx is onyx with white and red layers.

Flint and Chert

Opaque, dull gray or white chalcedony. They rarely make an appearance as gems, but have been used for arrowheads, driveways, and other u litarian purpo
These materials are very compact and hard. Mozarkite is a colorful type of chert that has been fashioned into jewelry.

Dinosaur Bone
Silicified dinosaur bone is primarily chalcedony in composi on. Gem cu ers can cut and polish them like any other quartz family gem. This material can sho
interes ng pa erns and colors such as brown, red, pink, blue, purple, green, orange, and others.

Chrysoprase
Translucent green chalcedony colored by nickel. Chrysoprase material may resemble fine jade.
 “Chrysoprase” by Jarno is licensed under CC By 2.0

Chatoyant Chalcedonies
Chatoyancy is a type of sheen that creates an “eye-like” op cal phenomenon. Chalcedonies that show this effect are called hawk’s eye if the stone is blue,
eye if the stone is brown or gold, and zebra ger’s eye if the stone is blue and gold.

Damsonite
A purple-colored variety from Arizona has been marketed under this trade name. The material occurs in veins and blocks up to 1 m thick. Masses over 100
been recovered. Its proper es are normal for chalcedony (RI = 1.54, SG = 2.61), and its colora on appears to be the same as amethyst.

Chrysocolla in Quartz
A tough, siliceous material consis ng of blue chrysocolla in fine par cles disseminated in silica. This is a rich blue, hard material that takes an excellent polis

Synthe cs
For informa on on synthe c quartz in general, consult the quartz gem lis ng.

Enhancements
Dyeing is an ancient and common prac ce for enhancing chalcedonies. These stones are rela vely porous. This is usually a stable process. Dyeing enhancem
should be disclosed to consumers.

Almost any chalcedony can be turned red by hea ng in an oven since it contains finely disseminated iron compounds that are oxidized by hea ng.

Sources
More detailed source informa on is included in the individual gem lis ngs for the chalcedony varie es.

Chalcedony: California; Iceland; India; Mexico; Namibia; Nevada; Oregon; Russia.

Carnelian: Brazil; Egypt; India; Uruguay.

Sard: Brazil; Uruguay.

Bloodstone: Australia; Brazil; India; United States.

Chrysoprase: Western Australia (Yandramindra, Wingelina, Kalgoorlie); Brazil; California; Russia.

 Chrysocolla in Quartz: Arizona; New Mexico; Mexico.

Dinosaur Bone: Colorado; Utah; Wyoming.

“Chalcedony in Situ” by Hadley Paul Garland is licensed under CC By-SA 2.0

Stones Sizes
Chalcedony is usually nodular, but masses can be several pounds and many inches in diameter.

Care
Chalcedony requires no special care. Mild detergent, warm water, and a so brush are a good choice for cleaning.
 “Green chalcedony portrait bust of Julia Drusilla or Livia Livilla (sisters
of Caligula), made about AD 37-39, Bri sh Museum” by Carole Raddato
is licensed under CC By-SA 2.0

by Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA, Donald Clark, CSM IMG, Barbara Smigel, PhD. GG

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