SiO₂
Chalcedony
Under a lens the waxy surface breaks into fibres of quartz too small to see as crystals.
- Formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5–7
- Crystal system
- trigonal
- Colour
- blue, white, many-coloured
- Element
- water
- Chakra (tradition)
- throat
- Zodiac
- Cancer, Sagittarius
- Month
- —
- Where the earth keeps it
- Brazil, India, Madagascar
What it actually is
Chalcedony is SiO₂ before it is a story. The lattice is trigonal, Mohs 6.5–7, and the eye meets blue, white, many-coloured.
The better pieces still come out of the ground in Brazil, India, Madagascar. Under a lens the waxy surface breaks into fibres of quartz too small to see as crystals.
What the old tradition whispers
The parlour tradition ties Chalcedony to water and to the throat centre. The old site stood it near: Cancer, Sagittarius.
How not to turn it to ash
Quartz will take lukewarm water and a cloth. Long sun fades amethyst and rose quartz. Perfume is a worse neighbour than dust.