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<TD><H1><A HREF=http://store.unconventionallapidarist.com/Category572>Collector Carvings</A> / Chrysoprase</H1></TD>
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<P><p><b>Chrysoprase</b> or <b>chrysophrase</b> is a gemstone variety of chalcedony (a cryptocrystalline form of <span class="mw-redirect">silica</span>) that contains small quantities of nickel. Its color is normally apple-green, but varies to deep green. The darker varieties of chrysoprase are also referred to as <b>prase</b>. (However, the term prase is also used to describe chlorite-included quartz, and to a certain extent is a color-descriptor, rather than a rigorously defined mineral variety.)</p>
<p>Chrysoprase is cryptocrystalline, which means that it is composed of
crystals so fine that they cannot be seen as distinct particles under
normal magnification. This sets it apart from rock crystal, amethyst, <span class="mw-redirect">citrine</span>,
and the other varieties of crystalline quartz which are basically
transparent and formed from easily recognized six-sided crystals. Other
members of the cryptocrystalline silica family include agate, carnelian, and onyx.
Unlike many non-transparent silica minerals, it is the color of
chrysoprase, rather than any pattern of markings, that makes it
desirable. The word chrysoprase comes from the Greek <i>chrysos</i> meaning 'gold' and <i>prason</i>, meaning 'leek'.</p>
<p>Unlike emerald which owes its green color to the presence of chromium, the color of chrysoprase is due to trace amounts of nickel
compounds in form of very small inclusions. The nickel reportedly
occurs as different silicates, like kerolite or pimelite (not NiO
mineral, bunsenite, as was reported before). Chrysoprase results from
the deep weathering or lateritization of nickeliferous serpentinites or other <span class="mw-redirect">ultramafic</span> ophiolite rocks. In the Australian deposits, chrysoprase occurs as veins and nodules with brown goethite and other iron oxides in the magnesite-rich saprolite below an iron and silica cap.</p>
<p>As with all forms of chalcedony, chrysoprase has a hardness of 6 - 7 on the <span class="mw-redirect">Mohs hardness scale</span> and a conchoidal fracture like flint.</p>
<p>The best known sources of chrysoprase are Queensland, Western Australia, Germany, Poland, Russia, Arizona, California, and Brazil.</p>
<p>The chrysoprase and Ni silicate ore deposit in Szklary, Lower
Silesia, Poland, was probably the biggest European chrysoprase
occurrence and possibly also the biggest in the world.</p>
<font class="font2">This article is licensed under the
<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html" class="external text" href="http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html">GNU Free Documentation License</a>.
It uses material from the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysoprase" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysoprase">Wikipedia article "Chrysoprase"</a><br /><br /></font>
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<BR clear=left><BR><P><A HREF=http://store.unconventionallapidarist.com/Product12855 TITLE="Frog Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving"><IMG SRC="https://store.nexternal.com/lapidarist/images/chrycarv1201-03.jpg" ALIGN=left ALT="Frog Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving" NAME="Frog Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving" BORDER=0></A>
<A HREF=http://store.unconventionallapidarist.com/Product12855 TITLE="Frog Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving">Frog Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving</A>
-- <STRIKE>$250.00</STRIKE> <font color=black><B>$175.00</B></font>
-- Frog Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving ( 0.42 lbs)</P>
<BR clear=left><BR><P><A HREF=http://store.unconventionallapidarist.com/Product13598 TITLE="Lion Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving"><IMG SRC="https://store.nexternal.com/lapidarist/images/chrycarv1204-03.jpg" ALIGN=left ALT="Lion Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving" NAME="Lion Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving" BORDER=0></A>
<A HREF=http://store.unconventionallapidarist.com/Product13598 TITLE="Lion Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving">Lion Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving</A>
-- <STRIKE>$250.00</STRIKE> <font color=black><B>$175.00</B></font>
-- Lion Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving ( 0.4 lbs)</P>
<BR clear=left><BR><P><A HREF=http://store.unconventionallapidarist.com/Product15944 TITLE="Tiger Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving"><IMG SRC="https://store.nexternal.com/lapidarist/images/chrycarv1206-03.jpg" ALIGN=left ALT="Tiger Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving" NAME="Tiger Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving" BORDER=0></A>
<A HREF=http://store.unconventionallapidarist.com/Product15944 TITLE="Tiger Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving">Tiger Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving</A>
-- <STRIKE>$500.00</STRIKE> <font color=black><B>$350.00</B></font>
-- Tiger Chrysoprase Chalcedony Carving ( 0.84 lbs)</P>
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