Carnelian (ex Richard A. Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

A nice representative specimen of the locally renowned pieces from "Carnelian Creek". This area (which is a creek that runs through the Watchung Mountains) has produced some beautiful and gemmy Carnelians in a wide variety of warm red and orange hues. This piece has a uniqe appearance with a very textured exterior, and is not nearly as smooth as many of the pieces found from this area. It actually resembles a piece of volcanic lava rock. Carnelian is a reddish variety of Chalcedony, which is defined as a cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz, but it must be noted that there are dozens of terms to describe massive/uncrystallized Quartz varieties, but it is commonly accepted that these particular specimens are Carnelian. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the piece is the fact that there are a few Quartz CRYSTALS on the base of the piece. Collected roughly 30-40 years ago, from the collection of Richard Kosnar.