Gem Silica

Gem Silica is a real name for a gem selection of Chalcedony colored by the existence of Chrysocolla or Chalcedony included with Chrysocolla. Gem Silica is termed for the quality that is gemmy and is really a variety of Chalcedony which is really a microcrystalline variety of Quartz which consists of silicon dioxide, also known as silica. Silica is from the Latin term silex. In ancient times silex referred to flint and chert. Gem Silica is additionally known by the true names Chrysocolla Chalcedony and Gem Silica Chrysocolla though it is not really a variety of Chrysocolla. Gem Silica is typically found in veins in copper ore deposits. Chrysocolla, as well as other copper that is secondary, are what give Gem Silica its beautiful number of blue to bluish green colors. These colors that are intense what makes Gem Silica so popular. Other copper-bearing gems such as for example Chrysocolla and Turquoise have similar colors but are much softer. Gem Silica possesses the Mohs hardness of 5 1/2 to 6 1/2, takes a polish that is high therefore is ideal for all types of jewelry.

Gem silica is found in a just a locations that are few the planet. The most notable are a couple of locations in the United States. Those two are found in Arizona at the Ray Mine, Scott Mountain area, Mineral Creek District, Dripping Spring Mts, Pinal County; and the Inspiration pit, Inspiration Mine, Miami-Inspiration District, Gila County. Other locations include Mexico and Peru.

Cleavage:	None observed
Fracture:	Conchoidal, Sub Conchoidal
Tenacity:	Brittle
Moh’s Hardness:	5.5 – 6.5
Luminescence:	None

 

Color:	Medium blue occasionally with a tinge of green from other minerals
Transparency:	Translucent
Luster:	Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Resinous