Banded Carnelian Worry Stone - 2 inch

Banded Carnelian Worry Stone cut to a large oval with a generous thumb hollow. The colour moves in broad soft bands from a pale amber through burnt orange into a deep russet, the transitions gradual rather than sharply ruled, and held against a lamp the whole stone glows through with the banding visible as depth rather than as lines. The polish is high and even, and at this size the piece fills a palm properly.

Carnelian is traditionally associated with creative work and with getting started, and is one of the stones most often kept by people who make things rather than plan them. It is commonly set on a work surface within reach, held at the beginning of a session, or given to someone in the early stages of something. The banding gives each piece a distinct character, which is unusual in carnelian and generally the reason the banded material is chosen over the plain.

Key Properties
Primary Focus: Creativity & Expression
Secondary Focus: Confidence & Ambition
Chakra Association: Sacral, Solar Plexus
Alternate Birthstone: July
Zodiac Sign: Aries, Leo
Chinese Zodiac: Tiger, Horse
Ruling Planet: Sun
Elements: Fire
Mohs Hardness: 7
Stone Family: Tectosilicate
Material: Carnelian
Form: Worry Stone
Finish: Polished
Approximate Size: 48-50 mm (1.9-2 inches)
Approximate Weight: 30-35 g
Listing: Single unit

Geological Information
Carnelian is a chalcedony variety within the quartz family, silicon dioxide crystallising in the trigonal system at Mohs 7, coloured orange to red-orange by iron oxide impurities distributed through the microcrystalline silica. Banding records the way chalcedony forms, in successive thin layers deposited within a cavity, each shift of tone marking a change in the iron content of the fluid at that moment. Heat treatment is common and standard practice for this material: natural carnelian tends toward a brownish orange, and heating produces the vivid red-orange the stone is commercially known for. Genuine carnelian shows a cloudy, diffuse colour distribution when held to light, whereas dyed agate sold in its place shows colour concentrated along the band lines, which is the practical test for telling them apart. Carnelian is among the oldest continuously used gemstones, chosen for seals in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome specifically because wax does not stick to it, found in Tutankhamun's tomb, and named as one of the twelve stones of the High Priest's breastplate in Hebrew tradition. Commercial material is sourced from Brazil, India, Madagascar, Uruguay and Germany.

AuturaSol Standard
Each natural stone is selected for its authenticity, geological integrity, and energetic clarity. Natural variations in colour, structure, inclusions, and surface features are inherent to geological materials and contribute to the individuality of each piece. Any known treatments, enhancements, stabilization, or man-made characteristics are clearly disclosed within the product information where applicable. Every piece is inspected and photographed to reflect its true character; however, lighting conditions, screen settings, and natural variation may cause slight differences in appearance. If you have any questions about a piece before completing your purchase, we're always here to help. Where authenticity meets beauty, we tell you exactly what you're holding.