At
present this stone is found in France, England, Scotland, Ireland,
Transylvania, Norway, Iceland, and the Feroe Islands. Those of a green
colour are procured only in India, and are very rare. Those specimens,
however, are particularly prized which contain a drop of water inside,
although it does not always remain, as can be observed in some rock
crystals, from which the water at last disappears by means of
evaporation.
The
term " calcedonious stone " is applied to all gems having internally a
milky tint. Eubies, sapphires, chrysolites, bluish diamonds, all
diminish greatly in value when the term is applicable to them.
The
ancients used the calcedony very much in making valuable ornaments ;
the primitive Babylonish seals, in form of the cylinder, and the latest
Sassaman stamps, were formed of this stone. We also see Etruscan
scarabaei and Greek and Roman intagli in this material.
Statuettes
of the period of the decadence of Roman art are found in this material,
and it appears that bluish calcedony was considered better, and
preferred for this kind of work.
