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carnelian
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Two pieces of carnelian chalcedony on a black background: on the left, an uncut rough stone with visible layers; on the right, a polished, tumbled orange stone. carnelian
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Basalt sample returned by Apollo 15, from near a long sinous lunar valley called Hadley Rille. Measured at 3.3 years old.
(Bed) Rocks and (Flint) Stones
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Also called:
cornelian
Related Topics:
chalcedony
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Two pieces of carnelian chalcedony on a black background: on the left, an uncut rough stone with visible layers; on the right, a polished, tumbled orange stone.
carnelian Carnelian, or cornelian.

carnelian

mineral
Also known as: cornelian
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History
carnelian
carnelian

carnelian, a translucent, semiprecious variety of the silica mineral chalcedony that owes its red to reddish brown colour to colloidally dispersed hematite (iron oxide). It is a close relative of sard, differing only in the shade of red. Carnelian was highly valued and used in rings and signets by the Greeks and Romans, some of whose intaglios have retained their high polish better than many harder stones. Carnelian’s colour is enhanced by baking and dyeing with iron salts. Chief localities are Ratnapura, India; Campo de Maia, Braz.; and Warwick, Queens., Austl. Its physical properties are those of quartz.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Richard Pallardy.