chalcedony

Home > ... > Earth and the Environment > Minerals, Mining, and Metallurgy > Mineralogy and Crystallography > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side The Oxford Dictionary of ... World Encyclopedia The Columbia Encyclopedia, ...

chalcedony

chalcedony [from Chalcedon ], form of quartz the crystals of which are so minute that its crystalline structure cannot be seen except with the aid of a microscope. Chalcedony has a waxy luster and is translucent to transparent. The name chalcedony is applied more specifically to white, gray, blue, and brown varieties. Some varieties, differing in color because of the presence of impurities, are agate , bloodstone, carnelian , chrysoprase, jasper , onyx , sard, and sardonyx.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-chalcedo" title="Facts and information about chalcedony">chalcedony</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"chalcedony." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 17 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"chalcedony." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 17, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-chalcedo.html

"chalcedony." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-chalcedo.html

Learn more about citation styles

chalcedony

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

chalcedony Microcrystalline form of quartz. When cut and polished, it is used by gem engravers. It is waxy, lustrous and there are white, grey, blue and brown varieties. Often coloured by artificial methods, some varieties contain impurities giving a distinctive appearance, such as agate (coloured bands), onyx (striped) and bloodstone (dark green with red flecks).

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-chalcedony" title="Facts and information about chalcedony">chalcedony</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"chalcedony." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 17 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"chalcedony." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (December 17, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-chalcedony.html

"chalcedony." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved December 17, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-chalcedony.html

Learn more about citation styles

chalcedony

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Â© The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

chalcedony a microcrystalline type of quartz occurring in several different forms including onyx and agate. The word comes (in late Middle English) from Latin chalcedonius (often believed to mean ‘stone of Chalcedon’, but this is doubtful), which in the Vulgate represents Greek khalkēdōn, the name (in Revelation 21:19) of the precious stone forming the third foundation of the New Jerusalem.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O214-chalcedony" title="Facts and information about chalcedony">chalcedony</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "chalcedony." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 17 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "chalcedony." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 17, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-chalcedony.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "chalcedony." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 17, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-chalcedony.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries and thesauruses

Rate these entries|See all related entries

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Quartz (not chalcedony) "fingers" from Jalgaon, India. (Let's Get It Right).(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Rocks & Minerals; 11/1/2001
	Occurrence and genesis of thunder eggs containing plume and moss agate from the Del Norte Area, Saguache County, Colorado.(Statistical Data Included) Magazine article from: Rocks & Minerals; 7/1/2002
	Reliable sources.(Let's get it Right) Magazine article from: Rocks & Minerals; 11/1/2005

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	Black chalcedony. (Jewel of the Month).(black onyx)(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 5/1/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...stone is chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline...Examples of chalcedonies of just one...rare. Most chalcedony is multicolored...multicolored chalcedonies include bloodstone...irregular, the chalcedony is called agate. Because chalcedonies are porous...
	Lavender Chalcedony: A New Find.(from Gem Reflections of California)(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 2/1/2001; ; 682 words ; ...This time, it's lavender chalcedony. While chalcedonies, particularly agates, are...nice new find. The purplish chalcedony is found in an area that also...beauty. The new lavender chalcedony, a translucent material colored...
	Black chalcedony. (Jewel of the Month).(Brief Article) Magazine article from: JCK's High-Volume Jeweler; 5/1/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...stone is chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline...Examples of chalcedonies of just one...rare. Most chalcedony is multicolored...multicolored chalcedonies include bloodstone...irregular, the chalcedony is called agate. Because chalcedonies are porous...
	Blue chalcedony.(jewel of the month) Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 3/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...color types are sold as chalcedony, whereas the rest...as jasper or agate. Chalcedonies are nearly always cabbed...Namibia's blue chalcedony, often called "African...valuable of the "blue" chalcedonies, is a translucent purple-to-lavender chalcedony, that is, a blue...
	Plumpton: Chalcedony scores for pub syndicate.(Sports) Newspaper article from: The Racing Post (London, England); 2/27/2001; 295 words ; ...Gary Moore, whose newcomer Ambry was a victim of McCoy's Majed magic in the last, had the champion jockey on his side for Chalcedony's victory in the handicap hurdle. This success prompted delighted scenes in the unsaddling enclosure from owners the Lancing...
	Introducing sea blue chalcedony. (Gem Notes).(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 1/1/2002; ; 652 words ; Chalcedony is a natural microcrystalline quartz...and fire agate. Common translucent chalcedony occurs in a wide range of natural colors...discoveries made in blues and lavenders. With chalcedony's recent popularity--thanks to...
	Where's a good piece of chalcedony when you need one?(Gem Notes)(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 9/1/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...sardonyx, agate (banded chalcedony) bloodstone, sard...Matching inexpensive chalcedonies with beaders can result...artists have discovered chalcedony, too. They can get...and carvers can get chalcedony from almost anywhere in the world. Second, chalcedonies, including agates...
	Chalcedony: It's Back and Blue.(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 6/1/2001; ; 700+ words ; ...in our February issue that lavender chalcedony is fast becoming a hot commodity among...artists and jewelry designers ("Lavender Chalcedony: A New Find," JCK, February 2001...interest in an old favorite--blue chalcedony. "It's been around a lot longer...
	Maxam Magnata makes new chalcedonies for Tucson show.(www.wholesalegems.com)(Brief Article) Magazine article from: Jewelers Circular Keystone; 2/1/2004; 693 words ; ...is launching two new colors of dyed chalcedony: Sunfire (golden yellow) and Verdana...green). Magnata released Sea Blue chalcedony last year in Tucson. Magnata is following...vogue. Because of its porous nature, chalcedony is often dyed. The most common dyed...
	US CHALCEDONY ALLIED WITH HUIJIE News Wire article from: AsiaInfo Services; 8/23/1999; 237 words ; AsiaInfo Services 08-23-1999 US Chalcedony Allied with Huijie CHINA, August 23...It was announced on August 12 that US Chalcedony and Huijie Group had established a strategic...intelligence network products and solutions. Chalcedony is a world-famous network designer...