Chrysoprase, Natural, Faceted Rondelle, One 3x2mm Strand

Chrysoprase, Natural, Faceted Rondelle, 3x2mm. 

This price is for one strand 15 to 16 inches long. 

3x2mm rondelle strands have 205 to 210 pieces.

Chrysoprase is one of the more valuable forms of chalcedony, which is a cryptocrystalline variety of quartz. It is colored green by traces of nickel and its name derives from the Greek words chrysos, meaning gold, and prasos, meaning leek.

Its color varies from light, minty apple green to intense deep rich green depending on the amount of nickel. It is usually translucent but may be opaque and contain other brown materials in the lower quality Chrysoprase.

Australia provides almost the entire world’s production of quality Chrysoprase. Smaller amounts originate from Brazil, the US, Russia, Africa, and the Malagasy Republic. Australian deposits can be found in Western Australia and South Australia but the finest quality Chrysoprase originates from the Marlborough district in Queensland.

A good majority of this material is exported to China for a Jade substitute, leading to the misnomer ‘Australian Jade’. Our factory in China calls it by this name. Today, Chrysoprase is in high demand within the Asian market.

Hardness 7

This is a natural stone that has had no treatment other than cutting, drilling, and polishing.

The source of these beads is Australia, and they are cut, drilled, and polished in China.