Carnelians - now you can wear them even if you aren't nobility!

Carnelians are one of my favorite gemstones. I love their cheerful orange color, and the way they look when the sun shines through them. They just glow with warmth. I love them alone, or mixed with other gemstones.

The color of carnelians ranges from orange-reds, to brownish oranges and reds, yellow and clear stones with no color. These shades of red are due to the presence of iron oxide. Carnelians are translucent to opaque and moderately hard.

Carnelian is a variety of quartz, or chalcedony, and is found in Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Africa and many other parts of the world. India is considered the best source for carnelians.

Carnelians have been collected for centuries. Several were found in a pot dating to around 1800 B.C. Carnelian was once only allowed to the nobility. People of higher social status were often buried with carnelians.

Carnelian is a Power Stone, a stone of ambition and drive. Carnelian nourishes and vitalizes ones entire being, giving optimism and enthusiasm for life. It stimulates analytical capability and protects from negative emotions. It is said to increase physical energy. The orange color causes cells to achieve greater health. Ancient Egyptians carried carnelian on their bodies as a source of constant renewal and vitality. Carnelian is associated with the second chakra. The hardness or carnelian is 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, with 10 being the hardest.