Chalcedony

Composition

Chalcedony is a crystalline type of silica consisting predominantly of quartz and moganite. Chalcedony has a shiny luster, which can be translucent or semitransparent. The stone gets its name from the town Chalcedon in modern day Turkey.

History

Chalcedony was used at least 32,000 years ago in Central Australia to make tools. Pre-contact uses documented today include typical stone blades. In the nineteenth century, Idar-Oberstein, Germany, became the world's largest all-purpose manufacturing center for chalcedony, operating most frequently on stones from Latin America.  The Torah discusses the Breastplate of Aaron, which holds twelve gems reflecting the tribes of Israel one of which was chalcedony.

Healing properties

Blue Chalcedony helps with verbal agility and emotional endurance. It is helpful in language learning. Chalcedony stimulates the repair of membranes and  strengthens the immune response. Blue Chalcedony can minimize inflammation and offer relief from overheating and high blood pressure. It helps cure lung scars and purges the lungs of the symptoms of smoke.