Pink Chalcedony
Pink chalcedony is chalcedony, the microcrystalline form of quartz (SiO₂), in a pale pink color. Natural pink chalcedony exists, but because chalcedony is porous and easily dyed, pink chalcedony on the market may be natural or dyed. In the gem trade the plain name "chalcedony" is used for translucent stones of a single color, including pink.
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Full material guide
What the material is, where it comes from or how it is made, identification and care, from the cited sources.
Properties
| Mineral species | Quartz (chalcedony, microcrystalline variety) |
| Chemical formula | SiO₂ |
| Crystal system | Trigonal (microcrystalline aggregate) |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5 to 7 |
| Specific gravity | About 2.6 (varies with impurities) |
| Luster | Waxy to dull (vitreous when polished) |
| Transparency | Translucent |
| Fracture | Conchoidal; no cleavage |
| Color | Pale pink |
| Treatment | May be dyed; disclosure required |
Origins & sources
Like other chalcedony, it forms at relatively low temperatures from silica-rich waters, commonly in cavities and fissures of volcanic rocks. Natural pink chalcedony "roses" weather out of volcanic host rock in the Mopah Range of the Turtle Mountains, southern California.
Identification
Pink chalcedony has the waxy luster, translucency, lack of cleavage and quartz hardness of all chalcedony (refractive index of about 1.54 to 1.55, specific gravity near 2.6). Light-colored chalcedony can be dyed almost any color, sometimes after bleaching, so a pink color alone does not show whether a stone is natural; dyeing is common and should be disclosed, and a gemological laboratory can examine doubtful stones.
Care
Chalcedony is a tough gem suitable for all kinds of jewelry and needs no special care. Clean it with mild detergent, warm water and a soft brush.
History
These records concern chalcedony in general rather than this color specifically. The name is generally traced to the ancient port of Chalcedon, now Kadıköy in Istanbul, Turkey; Agricola mentioned a stone named for the town in 1546. Chalcedony was used for cylinder seals in Mesopotamia as early as the 7th century BC and later for jewelry, buttons, cameos and intaglios.
Cultural meanings
Not collected yet
Traditional beliefs
Chalcedony in general was traditionally believed to drive away melancholy and evil spirits; Merrill (1922) recorded the belief that, worn as an amulet, it guarded against danger during tempests. It is also listed in the Bible (Revelation 21:19) as the third foundation stone of the Heavenly City.
Collected Oct 23, 2026
- Chalcedony: Mineral information, data and localities. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy) · Accessed Oct 23, 2026 OverviewPropertiesHistory
- The Quartz Page: Chalcedony The Quartz Page (A. C. Akhavan) · Accessed Oct 23, 2026 Origins & sources
- GemRocks: Chalcedony Central Michigan University (R. V. Dietrich, GemRocks) · Accessed Oct 23, 2026 OverviewPropertiesOrigins & sourcesIdentificationHistoryTraditional beliefs
- Chalcedony Value, Price, and Jewelry Information International Gem Society (Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA, et al.) · Accessed Oct 23, 2026 OverviewPropertiesIdentificationCareHistory
- Buying Guide: Get to Know the Different Types of Chalcedony Gem-A (The Gemmological Association of Great Britain; Pat Daly FGA DGA) · Accessed Oct 23, 2026 Overview
- Chalcedony – A Gem for the Ages Ganoksin / Colored Stone (Gordon Austin, April 2003) · Accessed Oct 23, 2026 Overview