Gemstone Glossary

Cornelian

Fit for a queen. An ancient Sumerian queen at that! 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 been revered for its healing, spiritual and creative qualities.


Also known as Sadoine or Mecca Stone and sometimes spelt Cornelian, the name Cornelian is derived from Carne, the Latin for flesh, due to the stone’s coloring.

A deeply religious stone, Cornelian was used by the Egyptian goddess Isis to protect the dead on their journey through the afterlife; it is the symbol of the Apostle Philip; was one of the stones on Aaron’s breast plate of judgment (Exodus: xxviii, 15-30); and Muhammad’s seal was an engraved Cornelian set in a silver ring. To this day Buddhists in China, India and Tibet believe in the protective powers of Cornelian and often follow the Egyptian practice of setting the stone with turquoise and lapis lazuli for enhanced power.

Cornelian is recommended for those with bad memories, creative blocks, befuddled minds, weak voices and a lack of courage. It is said to be beneficial in treating impotence, infertility, insomnia, menstrual cramps, neuralgia, rheumatism, asthma, bad blood, lethargy, digestive problems, and skin conditions like acne and psoriasis in both humans and animals. Cornelian also helps hotheaded people overcome anger and establish self-control, and it even protects the wearer from envy and falling objects.

Cornelian is a translucent orange to red variety of chalcedony. The red tints are caused by iron oxide impurities. It is most commonly made into beads, cabochons, and carvings. As Cornelian is fairly common, it is an inexpensive gem. The best Cornelian is translucent. Some Cornelian will be dyed. Cornelian is often carved and the quality of carving is a key issue in determining price.