Description
Bamboo coral is the fossilized root of the bamboo plant. Its name "coral" comes from the red coral found in the sea. Red coral is now a protected product because it has been harvested en masse in recent years to make jewelry. Due to its scarcity, bamboo coral is now available as a replacement. This fossilized resin is therefore also called bamboo coral. Bamboo coral is available in many colors, although these are dyed. The original color is yellowish-white. This product, too, will become scarce in the future because it is still being harvested en masse.
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.
