Quantcast
  We apologize for any slow response. This will be fixed before October 31st Portal logo
Login/Register
Bactrian Gold Treasure from Afghanistan, coming soon....
/gemstones/king-natural-history/page_172 - 2
 

Chrysoprasius, Chrysoprase

Chrysocolla, Carbonate of Copper Page of 453 Chrysoprasius, Chrysoprase Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
       
     
 
CHRYSOPRASIUS.
163
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
Flint's Chrysoprasius is the third kind of his Beryl, approxi­mating to tho Chrysoberyllus, but still paler or yellower, and considered by some as belonging to a distinct species. This latter supposition was probably correct, and the stone in question the Indian Chrysolite. Most certainly it was not our Chrysoprase, Silica coloured a beautiful apple-green by oxide of Nickel, slightly translucent, and of uncommon hardness. Had the ancients known this they must have classed it amongst the more opaque Smaragdi : it is more probable they were unac­quainted with it, for the only source at present is the mine of Kosemiitz in Silesia. Although of much the same composition as the Prase, it differs greatly from that stone in outward appearance, by reason of its opacity and much more agreeable tint of green, besides its greatly superior hardness.
Although antique works do not occur in our Chrysoprase— a necessary consequence, from the fact that the only locality producing it was without the limits of Roman enterprise—yet a mineral much resembling it, though more of α bluish east, is said to be found sometimes set in old Egyptian jewelry alter­nately with bits of Lapis-lazuli. Intagli also are known upon this same substance, which has, on account of its colour and slight translucency, been mistaken for the Turquois. This latter kind may with some probability be considered the cerulean Jasper brought from the Thermodon.
Some such stone as this may have been the Omphax, reckoned by Theophrastus (30) amongst the commoner ring-stones. The word, primarily signifying an unripe grape, must have been applied to a gem opaque and green, with a certain bluish bloom upon it. It is strange, indeed, that no Greek intagli are now
m 2
 
 

 
       
Chrysocolla, Carbonate of Copper Page of 453 Chrysoprasius, Chrysoprase
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page