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| Color |
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lavender to lilac |
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| Gem Family |
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Purple Sage Chalcedony
is a translucent variety of chalcedony quartz |
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| Source |
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The only known source
of Purple Sage Chalcedony is in the United States,
in the high desert of Nevada. The sage-brush covered
foothills of the Bilk Creek Mountains contain a
large geothermal basalt and ash dome that is laced
with veins of chalcedony. |
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| Clarity |
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Translucent with an even
milky luster |
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| Size Range |
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5 to 10 carats |
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| Shapes Available |
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Purple Sage Chalcedony
is cut in cabochons in sizes up to 10x16mm |
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| Enhancement |
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Purple Sage Chalcedony
is not treated: the color is natural, exactly as
it is found in the earth. |
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| Lore & History |
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When the deposit of Purple
Sage Chalcedony was first discovered thirty years
ago, collectors most often cut this gem to feature
its dark black branching tree-patterned dendrite
inclusions. They called this patterned gem purple
sage agate. Only in 2001, was the gem cut to display
its beautiful pastel colors. |
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| Toughness &
Hardness |
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Like other kinds of quartz,
the hardness of Purple Sage Chalcedony is 7 on the
Mohs scale. Chalcedony has interlocking fibers that
make it even tougher than transparent quartz. |
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| Care & Cleaning |
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Purple Sage Chalcedony
is very durable. To clean Purple Sage Chalcedony,
use warm water and detergent. Scrub with a soft
brush and rinse with warm water. |
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| Price Range |
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$15 to $35 per carat |
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| Special Characteristics |
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Miners need to unearth
100 pounds of the rough material to produce just
two pounds of solid purple chalcedony. This two
pounds will cut only 500 carats of finished gems
that are fine enough to qualify as Purple Sage Chalcedony. |
