Text: About Onyx, Sard, and Sardonyx: Onyx, along with sard, sardonyx and agate are some of varieties of the microcrystalline quartz, chalcedony. Characteristic of onyx include its straight bands rather than curved bands of those found in agate stones. The name onyx derived from the Greek for 'fingernail', a reference to the width of the bandings. Chalcedony can be found worldwide, such as Brazil, Germany, India, Russia, and United States. Because of its beautiful and colorful bandings and fibrous structure and a hardness of 6.5 to 7, chalcedony has been used for centuries for carving sculptures and intaglios, Roman cameos, inlay works or just cut and polished beads. Especially the stones has several layers and each of a different color, usually are carved with different pattern or designs in each layer. Onyx, this semi translucent to opaque quartz comes naturally in a variety of colors, such as oranges, reds, brown, or white bands. Sard is a brownish red variety which similar to agate. Sardonyx has the blending color of sard and onyx, the straight white bands and the brownish red. Black onyx doesn't occur black in nature; it is a chalcedony (a variety of quartz) that has been dyed completely black. The dye treatment is permanent. Along with dyed lapis, dyed chalcedony such as black onyx is accepted in the trade. Not like rubies, emeralds, or jade which have higher value, dyed lapis and dyed black onyx usually start with very moderate prices and most buyers are informed of the stone dye treatment. The treatments provide a practical means of making low-grade stones look better and provide more availability and varieties for the jewelry making trade. Since ancient Egyptian times, onyx has been stained and treated to improve and change its color to fit in a wide range production of ornament and jewelry. Black onyx is a useful stone for helping people become more concentrated and less distracted. It also believed by Indians and Persians that onyx can protect them from the evil eye, stopping nightmares and reduce labor pain for woman. Many psychic readers use onyx to aid past-life and between-lives regression work. Advised by gemstone and healing art theory, it is a good practice to leave your onyx to recharge its energies in sunlight.

See Also:

Source: