Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
June 6, 2010
My husband bought me a stunning pair of chrysoprase earrings, and I wondered if this specific gemstone is considered a soft one? It seems to me that chrysoprase is a delicate and fragile gemstone that could scratch easily, is this true?
June 8, 2010
The origin of the term chrysoprase is in fact the Greek chrysos meaning gold and prason meaning leek. Much like carnelians, chrysoprases are a type of chalcedony and part of the Quartz family. Chrysoprase is a relatively hard stone, rating at 7 on Mohs scale of mineral hardness. The structure of chrysoprase gemstones is microcrystalline. Like carnelian, agate, and onyx, chrysoprase gemstones belongs to the cryptocrystalline silica family which is characterized by the fact that they are not viewed properly under a magnifying glass due to the fineness of the crystals that compose these gemstones. Chrysoprases are not transparent or made from clearly recognized crystals with six sides. The gemstones themselves are usually somewhere between semi-translucent and opaque. Most chrysoprases are dazzling green (ranging from light green to dark green), but they can also be found in yellow. The beautiful color of these gemstones is a result of small inclusions of nickel compounds. Chrysoprases are mined in Russia, Poland, Germany, Queensland, Australia, Brazil, California and Arizona. These gemstones are easy to clean and care for. Chrysoprases are usually set in gold and silver jewelry so they can easily be cleaned with jewelry polish. Once it is polished, chrysoprase gemstone jewelry should be washed and dried with a delicate cloth.
