THE GOLD OF THAT LAND: Biblical Minerals & Rocks  

 

19.     chrysoprasus

Greek: chrusoprasos, a golden leek, or greenish-yellow gemstone. Revelation 21:20.

Probable Identification: chrysoprase, the green, most valuable form of chalcedony.

Mineralogy:

    Chrysoprase in modern mineralogy is the apple-green, translucent variety of chalcedony or fibrous microcrystalline quartz which is strongly tinted by nickel oxide. Large pieces tend to be cut by fissures and mottled. Chrome chalcedony or mtorolite from Zimbabwe also has a natural green color.

    The ancient Egyptians made beads and pendants of chrysoprase from predynastic times onward.

 

Sources:

Hurlbut, 1952, op. cit.; 322.

Lucas & Harris, op. cit.; 392.

Ralph, Jolyon, 1993-2004. http://www.mindat.org/min-952.html

Schumann, op. cit.; 128-129.

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