Chrysoprase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

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“Mark's Tree Frog Carving,” hand-carved chrysoprase, by Jessa and Mark Anderson. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

Chrysoprase

Chrysoprase is apple-green chalcedony that derives its color from nickel. Its hardness and striking color make it a popular gemstone for jewelry as well as carvings.

Chrysoprase Value

The International Gem Society (IGS) has a list of businesses offering gemstone appraisal services.

Chrysoprase Value via Gem Price Guide

Accompanying value information:

Chrysoprase Buying Guide

Cabochons	All sizes
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Chrysoprase Information

Data	Value
Name	Chrysoprase
Is a Variety of	Chalcedony
Crystallography	Hexagonal, microcrystalline.
Refractive Index	1.540-1.553
Colors	Green, from olive to apple and pure shades.
Luster	Greasy, waxy.
Hardness	6.5 - 7
Wearability	Very Good
Fracture	Conchoidal, granular
Specific Gravity	2.651-2.91
Birefringence	0.004-0.009
Cleavage	None
Dispersion	None.
Transparency	Nearly opaque to nearly transparent.
Pleochroism	None.
Optics	o = 1.540; e = 1.553. Uniaxial (+).
Optic Sign	Uniaxial +
Etymology	From the Greek chrysos, “golden,” and prase, “leek,” alluding to its green color.

Chrysoprase (Quartz): Australia (largest beads ~ 8 mm). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Comments

A variety of chalcedony, chrysoprase is a cryptocrystalline quartz gemstone. Transparency ranges from nearly opaque to nearly transparent. Its colors range from apple to olive green and nearly pure greens with medium tones.

Identifying Characteristics

While some chalcedony varieties, such as “mtorolite” from Zimbabwe, may derive their green color from chromium, chrysoprases get their color from nickel.

Sometimes, the term “prase” is used to described chrysoprase gems with darker tones. However, prase is also used to refer to green chalcedonies colored by chlorite inclusions found in Europe.

Very fine, highly saturated chrysoprase gems have been misidentified as “Imperial jade.”

“Quartz Var. Chrysoprase,” Marlborough, Rockhampton Region, Queensland, Australia. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Enhancements

Chalcedonies may be dyed green to simulate these stones.

Sources

Most chrysoprase sold today comes from Australia.

Queensland: Greenvale; Marlborough.
Western Australia: Yandramindra, Wingelina, Kalgoorlie.
Brazil; Myanmar; Poland; Russia.
United States: Arizona; California.

“Chrysoprase – Brazil” by Stephanie Clifford. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

Stone Sizes

Locations near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia have yielded 700 and 1,470 kg nodules.

Care

Chrysoprase jewelry may fade if exposed to sunlight or heat. The color may return if stored with moisture (such as soft cotton moistened with water). (Editor’s Note: contributor and jewelry maker Howard Denghausen writes that only dyed chrysoprases will fade in sunlight).

This gemstone requires no special care. A combination of mild detergent, warm water, and a soft brush is a good choice for cleaning. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.