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Fake vs Real Carnelian
Are you unsure if your Carnelian is real? Is it a fake being passed off as the real deal? Is it dyed or heated? Let's learn to pick out real Carnelian crystals for your collection.
Watch the Real vs Fake Carnelian video to see examples, and read below for even more tips and tricks.
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How can you tell if your Carnelian is real?
The best way to know if your Carnelian is real is to buy from a reputable seller who knows what they are selling you. They should be knowledgeable enough to answer your questions; if they don't have the answer, they will say so rather than make something up!
Because Carnelian is a popular stone, especially in its bright reddish-orange colors, deceptive or naive vendors pass off fakes as the real thing. They could be made of glass, resin, or plastic, or they could dyed stones.
If you do not have access to a reputable seller, here are some tips to follow to tell if your Carnelian is real:
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Real Carnelian is a 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs Scale of Hardness. This makes it a relatively hard stone that will scratch softer materials like glass, while softer materials will not scratch Carnelian.
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Real Carnelian will never have air bubbles or mold marks. Air bubbles and mold marks are an indication of glass. Use a magnifying jeweler's loupe to help you see into the stone.
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Real Carnelian will have inclusions. Notice your stone's mineral inclusions, veins, craters, dips, and imperfections. You may not find these in a fake.
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Real Carnelian will always have a white streak. Despite its outward appearance, Real Carnelian will have a white powder in the crystal streak test.
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Real Carnelian will not leak color. Testing with acetone should not remove any color from the stone. However, the stone may naturally change colors depending on conditions like humidity or heat.
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Real Carnelian has a specific gravity of 2.58-2.64. It is not particularly heavy for its size compared to other stones. Here is a video on how to measure your stone's density at home.
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Real Carnelian will react with hydrochloric acid. It will fade as the iron particles are removed from the stone with the acid. It will eventually dissolve in the acid.
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Real Carnelian has a refractive index range of 1.54-1.55. This test requires a refractometer.
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Real Carnelian will always be orange. It may have various shades of brownish to reddish-orange, but it will never be other colors.
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Real Carnelian will usually be translucent. Translucency varies. Fakes may be opaque or too transparent.
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Real Carnelian is cold to the touch. Like other stones, it is cool and heats up quickly in your hand, whereas other materials like plastic or resin will be warmer. However, glass and many other real gemstones are cold to the touch as well, so this technique may be used to rule out synthetics like plastic.
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Real Carnelian will vary in color intensity. Fakes may be uniform in color and show no gradients or banding.
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Real Carnelian is heat-resistant. This is in comparison to materials like plastic and resin that quickly melt and smell burnt under a flame or with a hot pinpoint.
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Real Carnelian will not have a seam. Some fakes will glue and then polish two glass plates with bands or moss-like inclusions in between to simulate Carnelian. They will show a seam where they have been cemented together.
Some of these tests are destructive, so only conduct them on pieces you aren't worried about.
None of these tests is conclusive in itself. If you are still unsure, you can send your Malachite to a certified gemological laboratory for testing. You can also find additional tips in the Crystal Identification Help.
How can you tell if your Carnelian is heated or dyed?
Because of its high iron content, Carnelian can easily be heated. It can sometimes even be heated just from the sunlight, so keep it away from direct heat and light if you want to preserve the original color of your stone. It all depends on the iron content in your stone and how it oxidizes under heat.
Keep in mind that most Carnelian in the crystal market is heated to darken its colors. It may also be dyed.
Because natural Carnelian is less abundant than dull Chalcedony or Agate stones, vendors often dye or heat the unattractive crystals to look like Carnelian.
To identify dyed Carnelian:
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Hold the stone against a light source. If you see color only along the banded stripes, it may be orange Agate. If it is patchy with color, then it may be natural Carnelian.
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Place it submerged in water to see if any dye leaks out. This process may take months, though.
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Place it in acetone to see if any dye leaks out. This should take only a few minutes.
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If you have Carnelian beads, check to see if the string has stained with any dye or if there is any pooling of color at the bead holes.
Secret formulas and methods have been used for dyeing Carnelian stones for centuries. The stones are usually placed in vats of dye, salts, and pigments for several weeks until the color absorbs fully.
Because it is such a specialized process perfected over the years, it is unlikely you will be able to detect the dye if you are a novice. As you get more familiar with seeing real Carnelian stones, you will develop a knack for picking out the treated ones.
Shop Real Carnelian Stones
The power of real Carnelian can never be replaced by fakes. Go ahead, try it for yourself. Here are real gemstones from the Satin Crystals Carnelian Collection to add to your treasures.
Carnelian Continued
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