The earliest raw material used by mankind, except for sticks, animal skins, bones, plain rocks, and possibly obsidian, was chalcedony because of its abundance, durability and beauty. Early records show that the use of chalcedony was for projectile points, knives, tools, and containers such as cups and bowls. Primitive man made weapons and tools from many varieties of chalcedony including agate, agatized coral, flint, jasper and petrified wood. The move from using certain items as weapons and tools, to using the same items for ceremonial and personal adornment was very easily made. It was only natural for early man to use his finest looking knife for special occasions or to attach a special lance point or arrowhead to his tunic. In fact, agate and petrified wood may have simply been elevated to gems from common and functional weapons or tools.

Chalcedony is actually a broad-reaching term that includes many well known varieties of cryptocrystalline quartz gemstones. That is quartz formed not of one single crystal but finely grained micro crystals. Because of this, the variety of chalcedony is even greater than transparent quartz varieties. Chalcedony includes carnelian, sard, plasma, prase, bloodstone, onyx, sardonyx, chrysoprase, thunder eggs, agate, flint, chert, jasper, petrified wood, and petrified dinosaur bone just to name a few of the better known varieties.

Recognizable colors and patterns commonplace in chalcedony can be seen in such varieties as agates that are color banded; bloodstone that has red spots on a green background; moss agate that has a vegetal pattern; jasper with a landscape painting appearance; black onyx with it's even black color that is from an ancient dyeing process still used today; carnelian with its vivid brownish orange color and clear translucency; and chrysoprase with a bright apple green and translucent appearance.

Chalcedony is found in all 50 States, in many colors and color combinations, and in sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Beadworks Boston and Beadworks Cambridge are pleased to bring you a beautiful selection of chalcedony beads and strands, in a range of blues and greens just in time for your summer jewelry designs.

Content for this article provided in part by:
www.jewelrycentral.com; The International Colored Gemstone Association;
The United States Geological Survey; www.gemstone.org; http://minerals.er.usgs.gov