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Color:
Vibrant pastel green color
Clarity:
Semi-transparent
to Translucent
Optic Character: AGG
Cause
of Color: Ni
rarely Cr
Fluorescence: Generally
Inert
Fracture
:
Concoidal
Luster
:
Vitreous
Cleavage : None
Durability:
Cood
Characteristics
for Identification:
Nickel
rich clay inclusions
Localities:
Southern regions of Australia
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Chrysoprase
SiO2
(Silicon Dioxide)
Chysoprase
is a variety of microcrystalline silicon dioxide colored
with nickel. It has been historically renowned for
having some incredible powers. In the Middle Ages
it was believed that if you put a piece of chrysoprase
in your mouth, you would become invisible. It was
thought that the stone would lose its color in the
presence of poison. Romanian folklore claims that
chrysoprase enabled its owner to understand the language
of lizards, although I've never known lizards to be
terribly chatty. Today chrysoprase is appreciated
as a calming stone of the heart.
Chrysoprase
is formed by the weathering of serpentine .
As the elements break down the serpentine, nickel,
silica and other iron oxides are dissolved out
of the stone and collect in cracks, crevices
and saprolite (a soft, rich clay) in the underlying
environment.
Exceptional
material is found in the Yerilla mines, which
have just recently reopened. The majority of
the Australian Chrysoprase comes from central
Queensland. The Yerilla mines are in the West
and substantial deposits are also mined in the
Southern region. While Australia's vast supplies
of the gemstone have helped to bring prices
down world-wide, the mines are still careful
not to flood the market and maintain some control
over pricing. |
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