Chrysoprase
What is Chrysoprase?
Chrysoprase is a variety of chalcedony that is often found in Australia, Brazil, and Russia. It’s primarily used as a gemstone and is popular for its apple-green to deep-green color.
Chrysoprase is a unique gemstone that comes in shades of apple-green to deep-green. Its vibrant hue and unique appearance make it a popular choice for jewelry and decorative items, especially beads and pendants.
| Chemical Classification | Inorganic - Silicate (Chalcedony) |
| Color | Ranges from apple-green to deep green. |
| Streak | White |
| Luster | Waxy to vitreous. |
| Transparency | Translucent. |
| Occurrence | Australia, Brazil, and Madagascar. |
| Formation | Typically found in nickel-rich serpentine deposits. |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Cleavage | None |
| Mohs Hardness | 6 to 7 |
| Specific Gravity | 2.58 - 2.64 |
| Diagnostic Properties | Bright green chalcedony. |
| Chemical Composition | SiO2 |
| Pleochroism | Not observed in chrysoprase. |
| Crystal System | Hexagonal (variety of Quartz) |
| Optical Properties | Uniaxial (+) |
| Refractive Index | 1.530 - 1.539 |
| Birefringence | 0.009 |
| 2V angle | Measured: 58° |
| Dispersion | Not typically noted for its dispersion. |