Description
Carnelian is a flesh-red to brown-red, translucent to opaque variety of chalcedony. It belongs to the quartz family. The element that causes the red color is iron, which is present in small impurities within the mineral. Heating can deepen the color. Carnelian is named after the Latin carnis, meaning "flesh." Its old Dutch name is kornalijn (cornelain). Carnelian was used even before the beginning of our era for making seal stones and jewelry. It was said that carnelian offered protection against quarrels, toothaches, and nervous disorders, calmed bleeding, reduced fever, soothed anger, and brought good luck. Carnelian forms in volcanic and weathering zones and is known from India, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Important deposits are located in Brazil, the United States, Australia, Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Romania.
