Gem Profile- Chrysoprase

by Judy Ellis

Chrysoprase is the apple-green form of chalcedony, instantly recognizable by its color, which is caused by nickel. Chrysoprase can be opauque, semitransparent, and even slightly translucent.

Chrysoprase is found in North America, including Arizona and California, and various places in Europe, such as Poland, Germany, and Russia. It is also found in Australia.

The mineral has a Mohs hardness of 6 to 7. Demand for chrysoprase has fluctuated significantly over time.

Mines in Poland were popular until they were depleted around the 14th century. Chrysoprase became popular again in England in the 1800s until the supply dried up once more.

In 1965, high-quality chrysoprase was discovered in Queensland, Australia. This discovery brought a new and significant supply to the market.

Mary Jean Skiba wrapped this chrysoprase cabochon in a custom design for a friend. The friend requested a spiral in the center to symbolize the spiral goddess.

She made this request because she had been told that the energy of chrysoprase could be helpful to her.

Chrysoprase and chrysocolla are named similarly because both are associated with gold. The Greek root "chryso-" refers to gold.

Chrysocolla, which translates to "gold glue," is named for its similarity to an early gold soldering material.

In contrast, chrysoprase comes from the Greek for "gold green" or "golden leek." This perfectly describes the shades of green in which chrysoprase is found.

Darker varieties of chrysoprase are sometimes simply called "prase." However, "prase" is also used to describe a type of quartz with leek-green chlorite inclusions.

Prase even referred to a type of green jasper in the past, but this usage is generally obsolete today.

Real Chrysoprase

Chrysoprase is also known as Australian Jade. It may be spelled as "chrysophrase" or "chrysophase."

This stone can be enhanced with dye or imitated using quartz impregnated with chrome green dyes.

It is also easy to confuse certain chrysoprase with jadeite.

Since jadeite is more rare, some suppliers may incorrectly label chrysoprase as jadeite.

Additionally, some material labeled as Chinese chrysoprase is actually just serpentine.

To determine if chrysoprase is real or manufactured, look for small inclusions and imperfections throughout the stone, as with many semiprecious gems.

If there are absolutely no inclusions, the stone is likely very valuable, treated somehow, or a complete imitation.

Prase and Plasma

Plasma is also a variety of chalcedony with green coloring, but this color comes from not nickel, but other minerals like amphibole, celadonite, and chlorite. Plasma also features yellow and white coloration.

Chrysoprase in Culture

Metaphysically, chrysoprase is said to encourage hope and joy, ease restlessness, and even offer protection when traveling on the ocean.

Hildegarde von Bingen, the 12th-century abbess and mystic, prescribed chrysoprase for calming anger, gout, and reversing bewitchments.

Legend says Alexander the Great, who lived in the 4th century BC, won his battles with a chrysoprase stone inlaid on his belt.

When a snake bit the stone off his belt, the legend claims he suffered military losses and never won another battle.

If you are familiar with 18th-century Europe, you know that public hangings were quite frequent.

A legend claimed that chrysoprase would bestow invisibility when placed in the mouth.

Therefore, criminals supposedly slipped a piece of the stone between their lips while approaching the gallows.

However, I cannot find any record of this plan ever succeeding.

Gem Profile- Chrysoprase

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