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Green Chalcedony is said to be a powerful healing stone that has been used since ancient times. It is highly coveted for its vibrant apple green colors. Some believe that this stone can help to balance the mind, body, and spirit. It is also thought to promote courage, brotherhood and goodwill. While it can be found in a variety of colors, this green variety is especially prized.
What is Green Chalcedony?
Green Chalcedony is a gorgeous translucent crystal with vibrant green colors and occasional bluish hues. Chalcedonies are relatively porous in general and are often color enhanced with dye, a practice going back to ancient times. Aside from green, one can find Chalcedonies in other naturally occurring colors such as black, blue, brown, gray, orange, pink, red, white and yellow.
Chalcedony is a type of cryptocrystalline quartz that ranges from semi translucent to opaque. The stone is as tough as nails, literally. It measures 6.5 to 7.0 on the Mohs hardness scale in line with other quartz.
Green Chalcedony has been found all over the world including in countries such as Brazil, France, Germany, India, Italy, Malawi, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Russia, and the U.S.A. However, it is mined primarily in the U.S.A. (California and Nevada), Namibia, Brazil and Zimbabwe. This crystal can be found in both volcanic and sedimentary rocks, usually with other Chalcedonies such as Agate, Carnelian and Onyx.
While Chalcedony in general is quite common and can be found in many countries, Green Chalcedony or Chrysoprase is considered the rarest variety in the Chalcedony family. So don’t be surprised if what you find has been dyed or heat treated.
The name of the stone comes from the Latin word “chalcedonius” and is named after the Roman province of Chalcedon, located in present day Turkey. Chalcedony is also mentioned in the New Testament. The green variety of Chalcedony is also known as Chrysoprase and gets its color from the trace amounts of nickel. The higher the nickel oxide content, the greener the stone.
Green Chalcedony is known for its powerful healing and calming properties and is often used as an emotional healing stone. Green Chalcedony is also believed to promote courage, brotherhood and goodwill.
Spiritual Meaning of Green Chalcedony
The beautiful green color of Green Chalcedony is associated with the Heart Chakra, for love, while the bluish hues in the crystal represent the Throat Chakra, for communication. Stones that balance the Heart Chakra are perfect for lovers and those seeking an emotional connection with others. It’s also perfect for those in acting or public speaking roles.
The stone is believed to promote courage, brotherhood and goodwill.
Chalcedony is a type of Agate and is associated with the astrological sign for Gemini.
Historical Significance & Ancient Lore of Green Chalcedony
The first uses of Chalcedony can be traced as far back as 32,000 BC in Central Australia where it was used in tool making. The Greeks and Romans carved the stone into cameos, known as intaglios, and seal impressions because hot wax would not stick to the stone.
Chalcedony has been featured in used in different religious traditions throughout history in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. Chalcedony stone beads have been found in Turkey dating back to 7000 BC.
Healing Properties of Green Chalcedony
Green Chalcedony is a powerful healing crystal capable of cleansing the Heart and Throat Chakras.
Metaphysical Healing Properties of Green Chalcedony
Green Chalcedony is associated with the Heart Chakra, for love, and the Throat Chakra, for communication.
Green Chalcedony and the Heart Chakra
The Heart Chakra is important because when it becomes blocked, it can have a profound effect on our mind and body. Those with an imbalanced Heart Chakra may find it difficult to get along with others because of their inability to trust and feel loved.
Green Chalcedony is perfect for unblocking the Heart Chakra because it is believed to promote courage, brotherhood and goodwill. The stone can help you feel connected with others again, allowing yourself to love and feel the love around you.
Green Chalcedony and the Throat Chakra
Good communication skills are in short supply so if it’s something that is important to you, so too should be Green Chalcedony. The stone is one of our favorite stones for the Throat Chakra, which is responsible for the body’s communication. This chakra is associated with the ability to express yourself, including your thoughts and feelings. When someone is unable to find their voice or is finding it difficult to speak their mind or truth, it is usually because of an imbalance in the Throat Chakra.
Physical Healing Properties of Green Chalcedony
Green Chalcedony is believed to be a powerful cleansing stone for your health. An imbalance in the Heart Chakra can lead to poor blood circulation, high or low blood pressure, and other ailments that affect the heart and lungs. Because Green Chalcedony balances our Heart Chakra, it can boost circulation and improve blood pressure, which prevents other more serious ailments in the body.
Emotional & Mental Healing Properties of Green Chalcedony
When the Heart Chakra is imbalanced, it can lead to feelings of loneliness, insecurity, unhappiness, distrust and jealousy. Realigning your Heart Chakra with Green Chalcedony will allow you to feel the love, joy and compassion that surrounds you.
How to Use Green Chalcedony
Wear Green Chalcedony Jewelry
You’ll find that Green Chalcedony jewelry comes in all different shapes and sizes and pairs well with just about anything. So if you’re looking for a fashionable bracelet or necklace with powerful cleansing properties, check out our Green Chalcedony collection.
Carry Green Chalcedony in your Pocket
This stone balances the Heart Chakra primarily and is perfect for those seeking love or an emotional connection with others. Because Green Chalcedony also balances the Throat Chakra, it’s also great for those in acting or public speaking roles.
Green Chalcedony Zodiac & Birthstone
Chalcedony is the birthstone of May and is one of the zodiac stones for those born under the sign of Gemini (May 21 - June 20). Those born under the celestial twins are outgoing and highly sociable people who often find themselves at the center of attention. Green Chalcedony can help amplify these qualities by promoting brotherhood and goodwill.
Cleansing & Charging Green Chalcedony
There are many ways to cleanse and charge your Green Chalcedony. The first is to leave it in direct sunlight for a couple of hours. Remember to bring the stone back indoors after a while as excessive heat and sunlight can weather a stone’s surface and cause its color to fade.
Another method is to leave your crystal in direct moonlight overnight. We recommend this approach over sunlight because there’s less risk of damaging the stone after prolonged exposure.
Caring for your Green Chalcedony
Green Chalcedony is easy to care for especially because of its hardness rating (6.5 to 7.0 on the Mohs hardness scale). As with most gemstones you should clean it with mild soap and warm water and then let it dry. You can use a toothbrush for scrubbing but stay away from harsh chemicals and abrasive materials. As mentioned before, you should avoid prolonged exposure to excessive heat or sunlight.
Frequently Asked Questions About Green Chalcedony
Can Green Chalcedony go in water or saltwater?
Yes. The rule of thumb is that the harder a crystal is on the Mohs hardness scale, the less sensitive it is to water. Crystals that are 5 or below should avoid water. Luckily Green Chalcedony measures 6.50 to 7.00 on the scale which means it can safely go in water.
How to Identify Authentic Green Chalcedony
Green Chalcedony should be translucent with a waxy luster. Because the stone is relatively porous, it is often color enhanced with dye, a practice going back to ancient times. Many stones that identify as Green Chalcedony are actually other types of chalcedony or agate that are color enhanced to give them that vibrant apple green color.
Difference between Green Chalcedony and Jade
It’s no surprise that Green Chalcedony can be confused with Green Jade. Jade can also come in many different colors, including green, but can range from entirely opaque to semi-translucent.
Another way to tell the stones apart is by their specific gravity. Green Chalcedony has a specific gravity of around 2.60 while Jade (of both the Jadeite and Nephrite variety) has a specific gravity of around 3.30, which means that Jade should feel heavier.
Also due to the rarity of the crystal, most of the Green Chalcedony that you find will have been heat treated or dyed to achieve the vibrant apple green color. Naturally occurring Green Jade on the other hand, is more common. At the end of the day, both stones will look great in any jewelry so be sure to check out our Green Jade Collection.