Chrysoprase Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
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
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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. |
| Fracture | Conchoidal, granular |
| Hardness | 6.5 - 7 |
| Specific Gravity | 2.651-2.91 |
| Birefringence | 0.004-0.009 |
| Cleavage | None |
| Dispersion | None. |
| Wearability | Very Good |
| Transparency | Nearly opaque to nearly transparent. |
| Pleochroism | None. |
| Optics | o = 1.540; e = 1.553. Uniaxial (+). |
| Etymology | From the Greek chrysos, “golden,” and prase, “leek,” alluding to its green color. |
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.”
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.
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.
