More than you ever wanted to know about Chrysoprase

This edition of my ongoing series of blog posts about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features chrysoprase.

A valuable form of chalcedony, beautiful green chrysoprase is often taken for jade. The name chrysoprase comes from the Greek chrysos (golden) and prase (leek). The vivid green color is caused by the presence of nickel silicate.

Lore

An 11th century Byzantine manuscript of Michael Pselilu, tells us that chrysoprase was believed to strengthen vision and relieve internal pain. At times in the past it has been used to prevent or cure sexual disease, gout and mental illness.

Chrysoprase is a lucky stone, carrying a small piece is thought to attract money. It was worn in the 13th century as an amulet of protection. Today it is still thought by many in the New Age movement to protect children.

Traditionally chrysoprase has been used to ease gout and ailments of the eye. Chrysoprase is also thought to encourage love and tolerance and is used to promote friendship and to gain acceptance.

"Wonderful things are told of the virtue of the chrysoprase, . . . if a thief sentenced to be hanged or beheaded should place this stone in his mouth, he would immediately escape from his executioners." 1

"Emanuel Swedenborg, a seventeenth-century Swedish theologian, scientist, philosopher, and metaphysician, credited this apple-green chalcedony with giving people a love of the truth." 2

Chrysoprase is one of the birthstones for May.


1) George Frederick Kunz "The curious lore of precious stones"

2) Brenda Knight "Gem Magic: Crystals and Gemstones for Love, Luck, and Power "

More than you ever wanted to know about Chrysocolla

This edition to my ongoing series of blog post about gem and mineral fact, fiction and lore, features chrysocolla - a beautiful copper mineral.

This vibrant translucent to opaque gem is a hydrated copper silicate mixed with a quartz matrix and copper, iron, and manganese oxides. Its Color depends on the purity of the material.

Beautiful aqua blue chrysocolla, a member of the chalcedony quartz family, was first found in an Arizona copper mine in 1905. The name chrysocolla is derived from the Greek chrysos (golden) and kolla (glue); the Greeks originally gave the name chrysocolla to a material used for soldering metals.

More recently chrysocolla, when included in quartz, has also become known as gem silica.

Lore

Gentle and soothing, chrysocolla was once used as an aid in preventing digestive problems and ulcers. Chrysocolla was said to improve arthritic conditions (today people still wear copper bracelets for the same purpose).

"Chrysocolla purifies the home and the environment, and can work to eliminate negativity from within a person. It imparts an energy conductive to stabilizing the home and re-building relationships." 1

Chrysocolla has been used by singers and musicians as a musical charm.

"This opaque, charcoal-colored stone banishes fear and re-establishes logical perspectives." 2

"Because it was used as a musical amulet, to dream of chrysocolla was considered very fortunate for musicians, singers, and florists. For centuries, musicians have used this stone as an amulet for healing the throat and lungs." 3


1) A. Melody "Love is in the Earth- A Kaleidoscope of Crystals" pg. 120

2) Marian Singer, Trish MacGregor "The Only Wiccan Spell Book You'll Ever Need"

3) D.J. Conway "Crystal Enchantments: A Complete Guide to Stones and Their Magical Properties" pg. 68