cornelian (also called carnelian and carneole) is a reddish form of chalcedony (a type of quartz). cornelian has been an important gem in nearly every great civilization the world has ever seen. from the royalty of ur (the mesopotamian capital of pre-biblical times), to napoleon and tibetan buddhists, cornelian has long been revered for its healing, spiritual and creative qualities.

Cornelian (also called carnelian and carneole) is a reddish form of chalcedony (a type of quartz). This translucent stone has a waxy luster. The best carnelian is from India. Most commercial carnelian is really stained chalcedony. Carnelian has a hardness of 7 and a specific gravity of 2.61.