Carnelian

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Translucent orange to red-orange and colored by iron oxide, carnelian is a variety of chalcedony engraved into intaglios, seals, and amulets since antiquity across Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Rome. Its warm, glowing tone and fine translucency, especially when backlit, place it among the more visually striking semi-precious stones. It sits in the trigonal quartz group and measures 6.5 to 7.0 on the Mohs scale. India is the primary modern source, where the stone is routinely heated to deepen its color before export. Moderately priced, carnelian is counted among the traditional birthstones for July.

Physical & Optical Properties

Category Semi-Precious Gems

Mohs Hardness 6,5 – 7,0

Specific Gravity 2,58 – 2,64

Refractive Index 1,535 – 1,539

Crystal System Trigonal

Luster Waxy,Resinous

Cleavage None

Fracture Uneven

Color red

Birefringence 0,003

Pleochroism Absent

Mohs Hardness

Mohs Hardness: 6,5 – 7,0

1 Soft10 Hard

Crystal System

Value & Market

Price Tier Moderate ($50-500/ct)

Where to Buy Carnelian

Blue Nile Fine jewelry retailer

James Allen Gemstone jewelry

Brilliant Earth Ethically sourced gems

Amazon Wide selection

Links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Cultural Significance

Birthstone Month 7 (alternative)

Treatments

The colour can be enhanced by heating. - Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann, 2001, p 126 Most carnelians offered today are agates which are dyed and then heat-treated. - Gemstones of the world, Walter Schumann, 2001, p 126 6.5 to 7Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) 2.58 to 2.64Walter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) More from other references NoneWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) UnevenWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) 1.535 to 1.539Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Uniaxial/+Ulrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) 0.003 to 0.009Herve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) AbsentWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) NoneWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) Red, orange, reddishGemdat.org, Management Team (2012) Orange to red, submicroscopic to microscopic inclusions of hydrous Fe oxidesW. William Hanneman, Pragmatic Spectroscopy For Gemologists (2011) Translucent,OpaqueHerve Nicolas Lazzarelli, Blue Chart Gem Identification (2010) Semi-transparent to opaque Waxy,ResinousArthur Thomas, Gemstones (2009) Blue-whiteWalter Schumann, Gemstones of the world (2001) TrigonalUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) Fibrous to grained aggregateUlrich Henn and Claudio C. Milisenda, Gemmological Tables (2004) Carnelian information at mindat.org Peru  Sri Lanka 

About Carnelian

La cornalina (o carneola) es una variedad de calcedonia microcristalina de color que va del naranja pálido al rojo intenso, pasando por el marrón rojizo, debido a la presencia de óxidos de hierro. Es una de las gemas más antiguas utilizadas por la humanidad, con registros de su uso en joyería y sellos en Mesopotamia, Egipto y otras civilizaciones antiguas. Los egipcios la asociaban al poder y la protección en el más allá. La diferencia entre cornalina (naranja-rojo) y sardónice (marrón-rojo) es principalmente de tonalidad. Los mejores ejemplares provienen de India, Brasil, Uruguay y Alemania.