Carnelian Stones: Information & Buy Carnelian Jewelry Online

Carnelian (or cornelian), also known as Mecca stone, is a reddish brown mineral that is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. It is similar to sard, a gemstone that is generally harder and darker. The difference is not rigidly defined so the two names are often used interchangeably. They both are varieties of the silica mineral named chalcedony, only colored by impurities of iron oxide, so they are all showing red as the main color. The color can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense nearly black coloration. The name carnelian is derived from Carne, the Latin for "flesh", due to the color of the stone.

Carnelian is found primarily in India, can also be found in the Tibetan plateau of China and various sites in South America. As a variety of chalcedony, carnelian is translucent orange to red, it has fine texture, color is thick and pure; it has nice scale of hardness; when lightly tapped, it makes crispy melodious sound. Carnelian was generated when a mine gets hit by meteorite under high temperature and pressure, in which the red is caused by iron oxide impurities. It is ruby's sister stone and very rare. Translucent carnelian is considered the highest quality. Carnelian generally requires carving, is often processed into beads, cabochon and sculpture. The quality of carving is the key factor in determining its prices. Since carnelian stones can be easily found in many places, it is generally low priced.

It is scientifically proven that carnelian is good for human health. Through research of physical science, scientists discovered that the permutations in the atomic structure and vibrational frequency of carnelian can strengthen human magnetic field, increase blood circulation, promote metabolism, relieve varicose veins, activate cells and tissues, improve physical condition and boost energy.

Carnelian is often recommended for people with poor memory, impaired creativity, thinking disorder, weak voice, and lack of courage. It is said that carnelian is very beneficial in assisting treatment in impotence, infertility, insomnia, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia, rheumatism, asthma, scurvy, lethargy, digestive disorder, psoriasis and other skin diseases. Carnelian can also help people to restrain anger, increase self-control, and it can even prevent the wearer from feeling jealous. Since carnelian is an energy booster, it helps the insecure person to find strength within them. It can also increase appetite. Because carnelian works mainly on the right brain, so it is ideal to wear it on the left hand.

As a stone bearing profound religious significance and a long and storied past, carnelian was once considered strictly the property of the noble class. The Egyptian goddess Isis uses carnelian to escort the dead during the journey to the afterlife; it is the mark for Philip, one of the twelve apostles of Christ; the Muhammad's seal is a carved carnelian set in a silver ring. People holding a high social status were often buried with this gem stone. As of today, Chinese, Indian, and Tibetan Buddhists still believe that carnelian has the protective power. Often in accordance with the practice of the Egyptians, they inlay carnelian stones with turquoise and lapis lazuli together to get more power.

Water Method
Put a drop of water on the stone, if it forms a dew and stays there without flowing away for a long time, then it is real carnelian.

Hand-touch Method
Touch the stone with hand, the real carnelian gives you a smooth and cold sensation.

Visual Observation
Observe the stone in front of light, the real carnelian appears transparent and color is evenly distributed.

Tip of Tongue Method
Lick the stone with tip of your tongue, real carnelian feels astringent and dry, otherwise it is fake.

In addition, you can observe with a magnifying glass, just to see whether there are any cracks. Cracks alone greatly decrease value of the stone.

• Do not put the stone in contact with acids, alkalis or organic solvents and other chemicals
• Regularly clean the jewelry with water and apply baby oil afterward
• Due to its crisp texture, it is important to avoid collision with other objects
• Do not expose the stone to high temperature, this is to prevent the color fading
• Do not wear your carnelian jewelry during bathing and swimming, or it may cause the surface to lose its luster