Chrysoprase

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Jewelry 101--Colored Stones

Chrysoprase

Chrysoprase is generally unknown due to the fact that there is litt le gemstone quality material available. A variety of chalcedony, the color of chrysoprase ranges from a light, minty-green to a deep apple-green. The shade and intensity of the color depends on the amount of nickel found in the stone. Though there are some ancient legends regarding chrysoprase, the majority of legends, or beliefs, surrounding this crystal originate in modern times and revolve around the believed healing properties of this gemstone.

Chrysoprase is a gemstone variety of chalcedony (microcrystalline quartz) that contains small quantities of nickel.
Chrysoprase is used as a minor gemstone and is cut into cabochons, usually round or oval, for use as pendants and rings.
The word chrysoprase comes from the Greek chrysos meaning 'gold' and prasinon, meaning 'green'.
Chrysoprase was a common feature in Silesian carving and masonry dating as far back as the Iron Age.
From the Iron Age through the 18th century and the rule of Frederick II, King of Prussia, the tradition of incorporating chrysoprase into decorative art continued. After he conquered the region he used the land deposits of green chrysoprase to decorate the halls of his favorite palace at Potsdam near Berlin.
A few pieces have been found among the artifacts of ancient Greeks and Romans who used chrysoprase as a gemstone, though not extensively.
Although chrysoprase is a highly valued variety of chalcedony, it is infrequently seen in the commercial gem and jewelry market. This is because stones of consistent color and calibrated sizes are difficult to obtain in large quantities. Chrysoprase jewelry can be found in stores and on websites that sell designer, limited production, or one-of-a-kind jewelry items.
A popular simulant of chrysoprase is ordinary chalcedony dyed green. This material is often incorrectly sold as "chrysoprase" or "Chalcedony Chrysoprase" or "Chrysoprase Chalcedony." These materials are not chrysoprase, and names that include the word "chrysoprase" are misnomers. "Dyed green chalcedony" is the most appropriate name for these materials.
Almost any green or greenish quartz may be called "prase”. This name is ancient and used in many ways. Opaque green jasper, translucent green chalcedony, and transparent green crystalline quartz have all been referred to as prase.
Often mistaken for emeralds by ancient jewelers, chrysoprase is the most valuable gemstone in the chalcedony family.
Chrysoprase used to be referred to as “the stone of Venus,” and, because of its vivid green color, was often used by the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians to make seals, signets, and jewelry.
The color of chrysoprase ranges from a light, minty-green to a deep apple-green. This color is caused by impurities of nickel, as this gemstone most frequently originates in nickel rich Serpentine deposits.
The transparency of chrysoprase ranges from translucent to nearly opaque.
Though sometimes exceptional pieces of chrysoprase are cut into translucent faceted stones, it is most often used for making beads and cabochons.
Chrysoprase is very similar to chrome chalcedony, which is a green variety of chalcedony colored green by chromium impurities instead of nickel. Chrysoprase is usually a lighter shade of green compared to chrome chalcedony.
A universal color consistency increases the desirability and value of this gemstone.
Because of its color, chrysoprase is sometimes mistaken for jadeite.
The color in some specimens of chrysoprase is unstable and exposure to sunlight and/or heat can cause it to fade. It can also fade when exposed to harsh chemicals.
Important deposits of chrysoprase are Australia, Tanzania, Madagascar, India, Kazakhstan, and the United States (Arizona and California). Poland was an ancient source of chrysoprase, as well as the only source of this material for hundreds of years, until the newer deposits were discovered in modern times.
Deposits in central Tanzania have been in constant production since 1986.
Much of the world's early chrysoprase was produced from surface and underground workings at the Szklary deposit in Poland. Mining began there in the Middle Ages and continued intermittently until 1980, with renewed activity at the site starting in 2010.
Today, most chrysoprase is produced in Australia, but it is not widely used because supplies are limited.
The highest quality chrysoprase is found in Queensland, Australia, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “Australian Jade”.
Chrysoprase deposits occur at shallow depths in areas where nickel bearing rocks have been weathered. There it is found as cavity, vein, and fracture fillings. Veins and fractures are usually under a few inches in width and rarely exceed several feet in length. Chrysoprase is mined by the kilogram and not by the ton.
Chrysoprase is usually found within or associated with peridotite, dunite, and serpentine. The nickel that produces the green color of chrysoprase is liberated as it is weathered.
Chrysoprase first became a popular gem in Europe after deposits in Poland were discovered in the 1700s.
Mentioned once in the Bible by John the apostle, chrysoprase is listed as the tenth foundation stone of the New Jerusalem in the Book of Revelations.

Specs

Chemical Formula	SiO₂ (with a high level of nickel impurities)	Mineral Class	Class Chalcedony (Microcrystalline Quartz)
Color	Green
Crystal System	Hexagonal	Hardness	7
Transparency	Translucent to nearly opaque	Luster	Vitreous to waxy
Refractory Index	1.544 - 1.553	Double Refraction	0.009

Legends

A cool and calming variety of chalcedony, this gemstone was a favorite of Alexander the Great, who called on its healing powers during his quest for world domination.

According to the Dominican friar Albertus Magnus, Alexander the Great always wore a girdle into battle that was embedded with a bright chrysoprase stone. On his return from a successful campaign in India, he laid aside his girdle to bathe in the Euphrates River. While the girdle lay unattended, a serpent came and bit off the stone and dropped it into the water. Alexander could not find the gemstone and did not win another campaign since losing this precious talisman.

The Ancient Greeks said that chrysoprase was the holy stone of Aphrodite, whose sacred color was green.

Assigned to the Goddess Venus to whom the sense of justice is attributed, chrysoprase represented the divine love of truth.

In medieval times, chrysoprase was engraved with the image of a bull to give strength and protection to the wearer.

Chrysoprase has been known for thousands of years, but does not appear to have been used for many talismanic or healing qualities until at least the Middle Ages.

Today, beliefs about the healing qualities of chrysoprase abound, including the following:

(These beliefs are not presented as fact and should not be used in the place of a doctor’s medical advice.)

**Believed to fill the mind and spirit with optimism, chrysoprase gives impetus to get back into the mainstream of life after illness or despair.**

**Chrysoprase is also believed to have a protective quality to it that has made it quite popular to sensitive healing folks, as well as those who have the qualities of empathy that are difficult to switch off or tune out of.**

**Considered to stimulate creativity and talent, chrysoprase heals the inner child, releasing emotions locked in since childhood. **

**Known for manifesting optimism, joy, and happiness, the chrysoprase crystal stone is one of the best antidepressants in the world of crystal healing.**

**If you have a checklist of garden-variety emotional ailments like depression, anxiety, and stress, chrysoprase crystal properties are effective in encouraging a more positive outlook on life.**

**Chrysoprase promotes hope and encourages fidelity in business and personal relationships.**

**Placing the stone under your pillow allows chrysoprase to promote a peaceful night's sleep by encouraging relaxation, reducing claustrophobia, and preventing nightmares.**

**Chrysoprase is an extremely useful stone for improving emotional health. It promotes forgiveness, empathy, self-growth, self-love, and general joie de vivre.**

**Chrysoprase is a strong detoxifying stone. It eliminates waste from the body, as well as the mind, by stimulating the liver and encouraging the body to rid itself of poisons**

**Chrysoprase is also excellent to use for energizing water. Placing a chrysoprase stone into bath water increases the therapeutic effects of bath time. Hold the stone over your chest while you soak in the bathtub.**

**Good for stomach ulcers and other digestive disorders, chrysoprase is also good skin perforations or infected areas.**

**The more yellow chrysoprase is useful for overcoming digestive challenges. **

**Chrysoprase also helps many skin diseases such as eczema and dermatitis, especially some forms of neurodermatitis. **

**Chrysoprase is used to speed the healing of any wound by holding it over the affected area and has also been said that keeping a chrysoprase close to your bed at night speeds healing. **

**Having the power to heal eye problems, strengthen eyesight, and aid in hormonal balancing, chrysoprase, in general, is said to be a gemstone that helps one recuperate from all illnesses.**

**Its relaxing and serene vibes help cool off intense emotions when the storm of anxiety hits. This healing crystal helps soothe an overactive nervous system.**

**Emotionally, chrysoprase is said to help heal a broken heart by providing a gentle boost to your self-esteem, equalizing emotional balance and fostering acceptance of change and tolerance for others.**

**Chrysoprase soothes heartache and loneliness and helps in conflict resolution. This stone also reduces fear and replaces it with unconditional love.**

**Helping attract the abundance of love, chrysoprase also promotes love of truth.**

**Chrysoprase attracts prosperity, abundance, mental clarity, love and enhances your intuition, allowing one to be truly centered.**

**Helping you overcome compulsive and impulsive behaviors, chrysoprase also helps you accept yourself as you are and not judge others. It can also help you feel forgiveness and compassion.**

**Chrysoprase will increase your self-esteem, self-confidence and courage.**

Chakra

Chrysoprase is a heart chakra stone. With this stone in hand, you will be able to open your heart to give love and let yourself receive love.

The activation of this energy center allows for a stronger flow of healing energy through the heart, which not only boosts circulation on a cellular level but also brings you closer to living from the heart and embracing universal love.

By activating the heart chakra, chrysoprase promotes forgiveness.

Chrysoprase opens, activates and energizes sacral chakra as well as the heart chakra, balancing yin-yang energy, and bringing energy into the physical body.

Actually chrysoprase is one of the best stones you can use as a heart chakra stone in order to clear and promote the energy of the heart chakra.