The reason of chalcedony formation is that chalcedony is formed at low temperature and low pressure, appearing in caves, hydrothermal veins, hot spring sediments, clastic sediments and weathered shells of extrusive rocks. Chalcedony is composed of aphanitic timely particles formed by precipitation of supersaturated silica in water. Chalcedony often appears where volcanic rocks appear. With the decrease of temperature in the later stage of volcanic activity, the water containing silica carried by magma began to fill the gaps of rocks, so that silica was concentrated and precipitated. When water evaporates, chalcedony forms. Agate is the kind with stripes in chalcedony.
Variety classification of chalcedony
According to the color, pattern and internal inclusion characteristics of chalcedony, it can be divided into three types: ordinary chalcedony, agate and jasper. There are many varieties in each category.
Common chalcedony
Refers to chalcedony with uniform color, no stripes, bright and beautiful. Most of them are translucent and have a strong texture, so they are also popular handicrafts and jewelry materials. Its colors are white, red, yellow, brown and green. Its varieties are divided into red chalcedony, red chalcedony, green chalcedony, green chalcedony, black chalcedony and white chalcedony. In Britain and Australia, carnelian and ruby are designated as July Birthday Stone, which symbolizes enthusiasm, kindness and majesty. Chlorite and emerald are designated as the birthstone of May, symbolizing luck and happiness. Known as? Australian jade? Or? Inga stone? Emerald is a serpentine produced in Australia. It is lush and beautiful, comparable to the Philippines, but much cheaper.
chrysoprase
1. chrysotile: The word chrysotile comes from Greek, which means? Golden green? . The superstitious legend related to this yellow-green chalcedony variety holds that a thief sentenced to death can avoid disaster with a chalcedony in his mouth. Although there is no explanation of how this miracle happened, historical records show that this gem has been proved to make prisoners invisible. Another interesting story tells that chrysotile was put on a belt by Alexander the Great to fight. It is said that when he was taking a bath in the Euphrates River after the Indian War, the jewel on his belt was dragged away by a snake and fell into the river.
2. chalcedony: originally called Cornelia, it is no longer used. Cornelia is an ancient Latin word? Cornus officinalis? Evolved, meaning? Horned berries? Or? Cherry with horns? . The latest spelling, Sheng Xing, was in the15th century and was mistaken for Latin? Carneros? According to? Kanem? , that is to say? Flash? . Legend has it that this red to brownish red to orange variety can ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Imagine it can gain courage for weak and timid voices and speak loudly. It can prevent suspicion and ensure the realization of wishes. Among Muhammad's people, red agate is widely owned, probably because Muhammad himself wears a symbolic ring.
3. Chalcedony: also known as Sadoine or boulder, sometimes spelled Cornelian. Carne of carnelian comes from carnelian, which is Latin? Flesh and blood? The reason is the color of this stone.
Red chalcedony is translucent chalcedony from orange to red. The red color is caused by iron oxide impurities. Often processed into beads, convex circles, carvings, etc. Because carnelian is quite common, it is a low-priced gem. The best carnelian is translucent, and some carnelian will be dyed. Red chalcedony is often carved by hand, and the quality of carving is the key factor to determine the price.
As a stone with profound religious significance, the Egyptian goddess Isis escorted the dead through the road to the afterlife with red chalcedony; It is the symbol of Philip, one of the twelve apostles of Christ; It is one of the stones on the breastplate announced by Aaron (Exodus: Chapter 28,15-30); Muhammad's seal is a carved chalcedony inlaid in a silver ring. Buddhists in China and India still believe in the protective power of carnelian, and often follow the practice of Egypt, putting this stone with turquoise and lapis lazuli to gain more power.
Red chalcedony is often recommended to people with poor memory, creativity disorder, confused thinking, weak voice and lack of courage. It is said that it is of great help to treat impotence, infertility, insomnia, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia, rheumatism, asthma, poor blood, lethargy, digestive disorders, acne, psoriasis and other skin diseases of people and animals. Red chalcedony can also help impatient people control their anger and achieve self-control, and it can even prevent the wearer from feeling jealous and dropping objects. Chalcedony is the national stone of Norway and Sweden.
4. Gallus plants: similar to carnelian, but darker and more brown in color. Silk-wrapped agate is a kind of agate with carnelian stripes and black and white layers, and it is the birthstone of August. Although carnelian has long been a gem to prevent spells, sadness and share wisdom, it is believed that it brings victory and happiness to the wearer and symbolizes longevity.
5. Bloodstone: (Bloodstone or heliotrope), dark green chalcedony with red spots, is the birthstone of March, and heliotrope is Greek? The sun? And then what? Direction? The meaning of. Bloodstone can be used as a talisman, and people think it can prevent bleeding. Early reports in history did not mention that bloodstone contains a variety of chalcedony gems. According to legend, it can make the sun turn red, thunder and flash. Give the wearer wisdom and bless them to be competent and healthy. Show respect to the wearer and be wary of being cheated. Besides, in any case, he can get what he asks for and believes in. The doors of all roads are open to owners who own carved bloodstone.
agate
First, the concept of agate
Agate is one of the earliest familiar gem materials. It has concentric layered belts, parallel belts or chalcedony of various patterns, and usually contains no or a small amount of clay impurities. Agate has many patterns.
Although agate has the characteristics of large blocks and rich colors, it can only be used as a raw material for general bracelets or craft carvings because of its poor transparency.
The more valuable variety of agate is silk-wrapped agate, which has fine parallel stripes of red or maroon and white. It is very beautiful, just like winding white silk on a red spool. In the jewelry customs of many countries, it is designated as the birthstone of August together with olivine. With its lingering, it symbolizes the happiness and harmony of husband and wife, right? Happiness stone? Known as, favored by people.
Rare agate
This kind of agate is relatively rare, mainly refers to agate varieties with some special optical effects, and usually two kinds can be seen.
Agate: This kind of agate has a layered structure, and there are thin layers of wrapped substances, such as flaky mineral crystals of iron oxide. When the light shines, it will produce thin film interference and will flash a fiery glow, so it is called agate.
B, agate folk saying
According to legend, agate can bring happiness and confidence to the wearer and be endowed with the mercy of God. But also to ensure their victory and strength. It is said that it can treat insomnia and make the wearer have a good dream. It is also said that it can help holders to protect their existing wealth more carefully and shrewdly. Agate is often used to make rings, which are engraved with a poem of Islamic scripture, the names of special people or some magical and symbolic numbers. For a long time, this kind of ring has various functions and is a family heirloom, which can protect its owner from all kinds of disasters.
C, the source of the word
? Agate? This word comes from Buddhist scriptures. Sanskrit transliteration? Asma Gabor? , meaning? Horse brain? It is named after the color and texture of this jade are like horse brains. Is this again? Horse brain? It belongs to jade, so the ancients translated its meaning? Agate? This word.
Classification and varieties of agate
The ancients often took specific names according to their patterns and colors. So its names are various, such as? Brocade agate? 、? Bamboo agate? 、? Arc agate? 、? Sauce agate? 、? Jade? 、? Silk-wrapped agate? White agate? And so on, from name to name, you can know its pattern and color.
Modern agate classification also considers its pattern characteristics and colors. According to the differences of colors, patterns, special optical effects and special inclusions, agates are divided into four categories and multiple varieties.
According to the prominent color characteristics.
This kind of agate has a single color, mainly one color, and its beautiful stripes are displayed in shades or different tones. According to its main colors, it is usually divided into red agate, blue agate, purple agate, green agate, yellow agate, blue agate and white agate, among which natural blue agate, purple agate and green agate are relatively rare, and what is seen in the market is basically dyed.
Red agate is red agate, which mainly has brown red, sauce red, bright red, orange red and other colors. What was it called in ancient times? Red feather? , is one of the best varieties of agate. Jargon? Agate is not red for life? That is to say, agate is not red and its value is not high. This is because there are not many real natural red agates, especially large ones, and the natural price is high. Nowadays, with the development of heat treatment and dyeing technology, red agate has become very common and cheap.
Divided by significant pattern
This agate is good at decorative patterns. According to the different characteristics of its ribbons or decorative patterns, it can be divided into the following varieties:
Onyx: refers to agate with striped pattern. Originally refers to white silk products, fine as silk. Onyx refers to agate with very fine parallel stripes.
This variety is generally limited in color. There is a variety with different shades of color to form fine lines, and there are also two varieties with alternating colors. The most famous variety, should be? Silk-wrapped agate is a variety with fine parallel stripes of red or maroon and white, which is very beautiful, just like winding white silk thread on a red spool. In the jewelry customs of many countries, it is designated as the birthstone of August together with olivine. With its lingering, it symbolizes the happiness and harmony of husband and wife, right? Happiness stone? As we all know, it is very popular.
Onyx has different colors and varieties. And black and white onyx, red? Onyx? Just before. In addition to the above red and white onyx, there are black and white onyx, red onyx, brown and white onyx, brown and black onyx and so on. Red agate and red and white agate are the best.
Ribbon agate: refers to agate with wide parallel stripes. Usually, stripes are monochrome with different shades, or are composed of two colors alternately, at least more than two colors. According to their different colors, they can also be divided into multiple varieties. In addition, all kinds of dark agate and white ribbons are called? Zygote agate? .
Scenic agate: When different colors, patterns and opaque impurities in agate combine to form pictures of people, animals, plants or clouds, sunrises and mountains and rivers, it is called a natural number? Landscape agate? . The really artistic scenery agate is not easy to get, but it is also difficult to find, so it is of high value and is often collected.
Among the beautiful agates, which one is unique? Moss agate? Or? Aquatic agate? It is famous because one is more common and the other is older. Translucent to transparent colorless or milky white agate, which contains opaque impurities such as iron oxide, manganese oxide or chlorite, and its impurities form patterns such as mosses, aquatic plants and cypresses, and the colors are mostly green, hence the name. But you can also see monochrome or mixed colors of different colors such as brown, maroon, yellow and black. You can often see such patterns, such as floating aquatic plants in the lake, or the reflection of weeds in the forest near the water, or the complete dyeing of the forest in Shan Ye. Like a natural scroll of plants, it is beautiful and magical.
What are many famous rain stones in Nanjing, China? Tiancheng fantasy? Art treasures, called? China is a must? And then what? Jinling is a must? . Most of the fine products are? Landscape agate? . In a small agate cobblestone, you can enjoy the ancient and modern scenery and Chinese and foreign places of interest, which is refreshing.
Besides,? Cloud agate? Or? Tanned agate? Especially agate with fog or cloud cover. ? Tortoise back agate? Especially the agate whose pattern looks like the back of a turtle. Similarly, according to the shape of the pattern, what else? Torch agate? 、? Mushroom agate? 、? Agate on the wall? Wait a minute.
Landscape agate is rarely used to carve jade materials, unless it is necessary for theme design. Usually, it's fun to be an ornamental stone directly, or put it on a case, or put it in the water, or play with it in the palm of your hand.
Agate with special optical effect
This kind of agate is relatively rare, mainly refers to agate varieties with some special optical effects, and usually two kinds can be seen.
Agate: This kind of agate has a layered structure, and there are thin layers of wrapped substances, such as flaky mineral crystals of iron oxide. When the light shines, it will produce thin film interference and will flash a fiery glow, so it is called agate.
Flash agate: Due to the irradiation of light, agate stripes interfere with each other, resulting in light and shade changes. It's easier to find after polishing. When the incident light irradiation angle changes, its shadow line will also change, which is very beautiful and interesting. This variety of agate is found in Yuhuatai, Xinjiang and Nanjing, but it is rare.
Agate water bile agate is famous for its exotic treasures.
There is a closed cavity in agate, which contains water or aqueous solution. This agate is called water bile agate. Make a cackle when shaking. With what? Bold? Big? Water? The more, the better. Water bile agate is an excellent jade carving material with high transparency and no cracks and flaws.
Beijing Jade Factory used the color change of agate to carve a "waterfall with flowing water on the peak": a charming deer ran into the pool (water sac) to drink water, which was full of fun. Great Wall Arts and Crafts Factory? Too white and drunk Water bile agate's artworks depict the vivid image of Brewmaster poet Li Taibai drunk in the wine jar (water gall) empire. The use of water gall in the above works can be described as extreme. Natural water bile agate, especially good quality, is extremely rare, so its handicrafts become rare.
Technical requirements and classification of agate
There are many varieties of agate, but most of them belong to the above four categories. The technical requirements are usually: if there are prominent stripes, the clearer and finer the stripes are, the more precious they are; Those with outstanding colors, red, blue and purple, and the right colors are the most precious; Those with outstanding patterns are the most precious, with both artistic conception and modeling; People with special optical effects, the stronger and more obvious their unique optical effects, the more precious they are; And water bile agate? Bold? Big? Water? Many and transparent, the highest is precious. All varieties require as few cracks as possible. No cracks are the best, even if there are, they should be few, short and shallow, which will not affect the application. In addition, in addition to the water bag and the available beautiful sand core, it is best to have no sand core. If there is, it should also be removed as an impurity in the application process. The sand core is big but not beautiful, which is waste.
Generally speaking, water bile agate is the most precious agate, and agate and flash agate with special optical effects are even more rare and precious. Colorful and harmonious multi-color agate is also a good product, and it is an excellent jade material for making beautiful jade carvings. So-called? Is it beautiful? , refers to the clever use of color in works. Is it beautiful? When the artistic conception reaches the extreme, it is called. Absolutely? . A great one? Is it beautiful? The value of handicrafts is far from being determined by its material value. Colorful agate jade carving is a characteristic product of China jade carving industry. Renowned at home and abroad.
The origin of agate
There are many high-quality agate producing areas in the world, such as Brazil, India, Russia, the United States, Japan and so on. China is rich in agate production and variety, and there are many producing areas, which are produced in several families and provinces. The most famous producing areas are Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Yunnan, Hebei, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Jiangsu. In addition, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan and other provinces have more agate production.
How to judge the authenticity of chalcedony
Nowadays, girls who love beauty like to wear beautiful ornaments, and chalcedony texture accounts for a large proportion in many ornaments. But there are many imitations of chalcedony, so what is the basis for judging the authenticity of chalcedony?
Natural chalcedony is pure in texture, bright in color and moist. According to these characteristics, black-hearted merchants treat chalcedony with inferior materials, shoddy it and sell it at high prices. There are two main ways to deal with fake chalcedony in the market:
heat treatment
Mainly due to the color treatment of jade and iron, there is no chemical additive. The heat-treated products, because of the changes in their internal structure, are mostly dull in color, not as bright as natural chalcedony, and their luster and head are not as gorgeous as natural products. These materials lack water head and are dry and astringent.
Glue injection and coloring
Mainly to dye the rough stone with dim color and poor texture, which is a chemical treatment process. However, the dye will be distributed along the cracks on the chalcedony surface, and the reticular pigment precipitation can be seen by naked eyes. The color is unnatural and frivolous, and the head and texture are stuffy.
No matter what kind of processing these fake chalcedony are, they are not natural after all. As long as you carefully observe and identify, you will find the flaws. For natural chalcedony, the more transparent the texture, the better the water head, the less internal impurities, and the less cracks and stone lines. [3]
The maintenance method of chalcedony is easy to lose water because pure natural chalcedony has heat dissipation. Generally, it is not easy to lose water when you wear it often, and you don't need to soak in water often, which will get colder and colder. But in autumn and winter, the weather in the north is dry and it is rarely worn. It is best to soak in water regularly for 1-2 days (the cooler the water, the better), and the original luster and moisture will soon be restored.
But one thing should be paid special attention to: take it off before taking a hot bath or soaking in a hot spring; Because chalcedony is super afraid of heat and not resistant to high temperature, if you take a hot bath for several days, or often work in an environment with high temperature and close to fire, the chalcedony pendant will dry out due to water loss and become less transparent. [4]
Look at how chalcedony is formed, look at:
1. How is agate formed?
2. How is agate formed?
3. Geological conditions for the formation of jade
4. Geographical conditions of gem formation
5. How is jadeite formed?