Belonging to the quartz gem family, carnelian semi-precious stones could be opaque or translucent. Their colors range from a pale orange to a reddish orange to a dark brown orange. It has a hardness of 7 on the Moh's scale. These stones could be found in many different shapes; however, the most common would be the oval shape. These stones could be principally mined from Russia, the US, Madagascar, Australia, and Brazil, among the many other countries.
Its name has been derived from a Latin word which means horn, which is actually in reference to the occasional flesh hue that it exhibits. Carnelian was widely used during the Roman times some two thousand years ago in making seal rings or signets for imprinting seals with wax for important documents or correspondence, as hot wax do not stick on to carnelian.
Some people believe that it has quite a couple of holistic properties. It has been said that it has the ability to improve an individual's outlook in life. It could also cleanse the blood and assist in the process of healing in wounds. They are also known to hold power in the afterlife.
Stone beads made with carnelian are found in a beautiful mix of natural exquisiteness and fine handcrafting. As these beads are carved, extreme care is crucial to ensure that its beauty would be intact. There is a small amount of iron oxide in it and due to that, the beads which are made from it have a reddish color.
