Pendant with gem silica cabochon

Pendant with amazing deep sea blue natural Gem silica with chain of sterling silver.

Its primary beauty is its color: a vivid, medium bluish-green. Depending on the light, it can shift from a crisp lagoon blue to a deeper ocean green. This mesmerizing color is characteristic of high-quality Indonesian material and is sought after by collectors worldwide.

📜 History & Origin

· The Indonesian Source: Deposits are concentrated in the Bacan Archipelago, North Maluku, about 2,400 km east of Jakarta. A significant deposit was found there in the early 1900s.

· Known as "Bacan": In Indonesia, gem silica is popularly called "Bacan" after the main island source. It is further divided into types like "Palamea" (bluish-green) and "Doko" (green).

· Ancient Roots: While gem silica's ancient use is not well-documented, its parent minerals (chalcedony and chrysocolla) were prized for millennia by civilizations like the Ancient Egyptians and Incas.

· A Modern Classic: It is often called "chrysocolla chalcedony" because its color comes from microscopic inclusions of the copper mineral chrysocolla.

🔬 Physical & Optical Properties

· Mineral Class: A variety of chalcedony (microcrystalline quartz).

· Hardness: 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale—excellent for daily-wear jewelry like rings and pendants.

Gem silica is a rare and beautiful stone.