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Variety · Silicate

Carnelian

SiO₂

Reddish-orange chalcedony, colored by iron oxide.

Hardness7
Crystal systemTrigonal
ClassSilicate
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Carnelian specimen

Carnelian Polished — Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Carnelian

Also known as: Cornelian.

The brownish-red variety of chalcedony used as a gemstone since antiquity — nearly interchangeable with the darker, harder sard.

Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Carnelian is a mineral variety of Quartz, with the chemical formula SiO₂.

It crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 7; typically red or orange.

Collections: Gemstones.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data and a Wikipedia introduction — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more C minerals or help write this entry.