What is Chalcedony?

In the most simple terms, Chalcedony is a variety of Quartz. The term Chalcedony is widely applied to many varieties of microcrystalline Quartz, but it is best known for its bubbly botryoidal growths and milky to semi-opaque appearance. When Chalcedony takes on a banded growth pattern, it is often referred to as Agate. Some of the world's most beloved natural gemstones are varieties of Chalcedony! Carnelian, for example, is an orange to red-brown Chalcedony variant, while Chrysoprase is a seafoamy green Chalcedony variety. Grape Agate is the popular name for a type of botryoidal Chalcedony. Blue Chalcedony, White Chalcedony, Pink Chalcedony, and Gray Chalcedony are other highly popular varieties of the gem, with multi-color specimens usually referred to as Fancy Chalcedony.

How to Pronounce Chalcedony

The word Chalcedony likely derives from the Late Latin chalcēdōnius, from the Greek chalkēdṓn, and is typically pronounced as kal-seh-d-nee or kal-suh-doh-nee.

Chalcedony Meaning and Metaphysical Properties

The color and type of Chalcedony stone greatly inform its spiritual meaning, but the gem itself is often associated with calming frazzled nerves, balancing emotions, and promoting hope. Chalcedony is used as a conduit for strengthening intuition and psychic abilities such as telepathy or clairvoyance, particularly when it comes to matters of affection. Chalcedony kept in the home is said to promote patience, love, and consideration for others, making it a fantastic crystal for strengthening relationships whether romantic, familial, or platonic. It is also an excellent stone to keep in the workplace if you are experiencing tension with coworkers, since Chalcedony is associated with reconciliation, problem solving, understanding, and solidarity.