6mm Gem Silica 1.6ct Natural Copper Bearing Blue Chalcedony from Old Mine in Taiwan 6mm Lava order Stone Beads Aromatherapy Stretch Bracelet

Stretch bracelet details: one approximately 1.6ct (6mm) natural copper-bearing blue chalcedony (as described below) bead with lava stone beads. You an turn it into an aromatherapy tool by adding a drop of your favorite essential oil to the lava stone beads. The natural blue chalcedony bead was cut by a respected & well-known stone carver who has sold stone carvings for hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is a RARE & stunning form of gem silica, described in detail below. Each bead is around 1.6cts (they range from 1.56 to 1.76cts).

American gem silica of this quality sells for $300+ per carat, and this is more rare than that, though I am starting it at $60 per carat. I believe the price will increase with time, as this material from the mountains of Taiwan has been mined out.

From GIA: “Compared with production from sources such as the United States, Indonesia, Peru, Mexico, and Chile, chalcedony from DuLan Mountain in Taitung, in southeast Taiwan, reveals fine texture and a saturated blue color.”

There is a lot of information below, but it's very interesting, and it'll explain how rare and special this natural mineral is. It glows in the sun and varies from blue to aqua in different lighting conditions. It's a treasure, and you'll want it. Read on...

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This RARE form of gem silica, known as "Taiwan Sapphire", though not named for corundum, but for natural copper bearing blue chalcedony, was mined in the mountains of Taiwan, in the runoff of a copper mine, and its value has increased exponentially in recent years! While it is similar to top quality gem silica from the Inspiration mine in Arizona, this beautiful mineral has been hoarded in Taiwan, and little is known about it in the US. The ratio of copper to nitrogen is slightly different from American gem silica.

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Taiwan Blue Chalcedony

Introduction:

A kind of vivid sky blue produced in eastern Taiwan is called “Taiwan Sapphire”. In fact, it is not the sapphire of the corundum family. Its main component is order silica. It contains a small amount of copper which forms a vivid sky blue. It came from the mountains of Taiwan. It is the highest priced stone among gems from Taiwan.

Cause of formation:

Taiwan's sapphire is generally produced in the coastal mountains on the east coast, from Fengbin Township in Hualien County in the north to Dulan Town in Taitung County in the south, across the flower and Donger County. The formation is between the Miocene (about 7 million to 26 million years ago), and the elevation of the production area ranges from 500m to 1600m. Most of them are hydrothermal deposits, which are rich in low-temperature saturated silica solution. It is collected between fault fissures and bristles of andesite, which precipitates beautiful colors. Generally, the original stone is often mixed with smectite, and contains a small amount of chlorite, natural copper, iron oxide and water. The color is generally blue to blue-green, and copper is the cause of coloration. The ratio of copper is about 0.01% to 0.02. The gemstone veins are mostly in the form of a dovetail structure. The veins are often extended by about 10m, the width is about 5 to 10cm, and the local width is up to 30cm.

Gemological properties:

Chinese/English (Latin): Blue Agate/Blue Chalcedony (Chalcedonite)
Chemical composition: mainly silica SiO2, which can contain Cu and Fe coloring elements.
Crystal habit: A cryptocrystalline aggregate, in the form of massive, granular or ultrafine fibrous aggregates.
Mohs hardness: 6 ~ 6.5
Relative density: 2.58 g/cm3.
Refractive index: 1.530 ~ 1.539.
Gloss: waxy to glass luster.
Color: fresh blue, blue-green, deep to light blue.
Transparency: transparent, translucent to opaque.
Special properties: microcrystalline structure, integrated matting, no reaction in acid, LW no fluorescence reaction, no special absorption spectral line, a few protein light or mercerizing phenomenon, due to water temperature, a few structural instabilities, color change due to high temperature or thermal polishing Light phenomenon.

Origin and occurrence:

Blue agate was formed after the Miocene. It is composed of the low-temperature hydrothermal fluid containing silicate and precipitated in the rock of the Andesite block. The blue agate is mainly composed of radiative fibrous or spheroidal chalcedony, and often contains a small amount of green mud opal and natural copper. The origin is mainly in the southern and middle parts of the coastal mountains, and is present in Dulan with irregular veins. In the fissures of the Anshan rock mass of the mountain, the gemstone veins are mostly extended by about 10 km, and the irregular veins are 5-10 cm wide. The width of the veins can sometimes reach 30 cm.

Taiwan's agate stone production area is mostly in the Dulan Mountain in the coastal mountains, and has been ranked as an important source of blue agate in the world. Dulan Mountain was once a volcano. After the volcanic eruption, magma rich in chemical components such as silicon, magnesium and iron flow into the gap of the rock and pass through the natural cooling of the ice age. In addition, the extrusion of the formation produces crystals, which are produced by symbiosis with the original ore. It has been listed as an important source of blue agate in the world.

The color of the blue agate in Taiwan is vivid sky blue, sea blue and jade blue agate. It is white when it is pure and free of impurities. However, if the pores or crystal faces between the white matrix grains are mixed with other mineral impurities, the color of the impurity mineral will be present. For example, red-brown agate is red because it contains iron oxides. Purple agate is because the iron ions invade the blue-agate lattice, producing a color center and appearing purple.

In fact, the color of the blue agate is often uneven, and sometimes the color is distributed in a strip shape, which may be caused by the difference in trace impurities contained in the agate precipitation. Blue agate may also be discolored or discolored due to heat or light. It may be because the blue agate contains some traces of mineral impurities. The heating process causes the water minerals to dehydrate or deteriorate, thus changing the color of the blue agate. In general, the more transparent, the lower the chance of fading or discoloration.

Taiwan's blue agate has been exploited since the Japanese era. Now the upper veins are gradually depleted. The lower mines are difficult to overcome due to machine tools and technical problems. The mining cost has increased greatly. Although there are still a few blue agate mines in mining, the scale is very small. However, after the typhoon, there are still treasure hunters in the Qiliu River in the mountain stream, hoping to find treasure in the gravel.

The blue agate produced by the Coastal Mountains is the best in the Qilixi area. Blue agate is bright blue or blue-green because it contains a small amount of copper. It is often found in the oxidized zone of porphyry copper ore and is produced in the United States and Chile. Taiwan's coastal mountains produce blue agate with the most beautiful color, the best quality, the highest in the world market, but the mine has gradually dried up.

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Enjoy!