Carnelian Agate, Heated, Sunflower, One Pendant, 33x22mm

Carnelian Agate, Heated, Sunflower, One Pendant, 33x22mm 

Carnelian is a variety of Chalcedony. It is often a solid color, but it may also be banded, in which case it would be jointly classified as both Agate and Carnelian. Agates are primarily formed within volcanic and metamorphic rocks. Carnelian is one of the best known and least expensive variety of chalcedony.

Carnelian is a semi opaque to highly translucent mineral commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. The color can vary from pale pink, orange to a deep rusty brown, though it is most known for its brilliant orange and red-orange crystals. Carnelian is colored by impurities of iron oxide.

Most commercial carnelian comes from India, but it is mined world-wide. Other sources also include Brazil, Egypt, Russia, Indonesia, Germany, and Uruguay. 

The name Carnelian has its roots in the Latin 'carnis' meaning flesh. The thought is that either the stone itself resembled flesh or it looked like the flesh of a fruit called cornel which also got its name from 'carnis'. Carnelian was recovered from Bronze Age finds. The Hebrew sardius (dark Carnelian) was the first stone in the High Priest's breastplate and is mentioned other places in the Bible. The ancient Egyptians called Carnelian "the setting sun." 

Hardness 7

These pendants were made in China.

Heating is a very common form of enhancement and is used to affect desired alterations of color and/or clarity.  Heating can also be used to lighten or darken a stone.  Heat is one of the conditions that cause gems to form, whether in the ground or in a lab.  Heating occurs during natural gem formation.  But heating applied to the stone after gem formation is an enhancement.

Metal Alloy is a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements, base metals, to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion. In mining and economics, base metals refer to industrial non-ferrous metals excluding precious metals, like silver, gold, and platinum. Base Metals include copper, aluminum, nickel, tin, zinc antimony, bismuth, lead and many more. Metal Alloy, also known as Pewter and is usually a tin based alloy 85-95% of the time but could also be zinc based.

In December of 1994, The US Safe Drinking Water Act defined Lead-free as having less than 0.25% lead content. Most newly made solid pewter on the market today is considered lead free by these standards. But it is still recommended to not give children Metal Alloy jewelry if there is any chance, they will put it in their mouths!