Can Chrysoprase Go In Water? (ANSWERED)

Chrysoprase is a hard stone with a hardness level that makes it reasonably safe to go in water for short periods of time.

Other stones that are softer in nature and in jewelry are lower in hardness on the Mohs scale, and will crumble in water.

Chrysoprase will not.

Learn more about chrysoprase and how well it can stand up to water here.

Can Chrysoprase Go In Water? (EXPLAINED)

What is Chrysoprase?

The word chrysoprase comes from the Greek terms golden apple and golden leek, and that is because that is what it looks like.

Chrys means gold in Greek, and prase means leek. It does have the color of a golden apple on occasion.

It is also often called the Mother of Jade, and is sometimes even confused as jade.

It is used in a wide variety of settings, such as jewelry and home décor.

It can also be used in New Age crystal healing methods, and for many, offers a number of metaphysical properties that people believe contribute to spiritual healing and wellness.

This is a stone that has been used since the 1400s for many reasons.

It was known by both the Greeks and Romans.

By the 1700s, it was discovered in Poland, and it was a very popular stone due to its affordability.

Now, chrysoprase is largely found in Australia.

However, it is not mined in large quantities.

As such, it is not the most popular stone to work with, but when found, it offers a gorgeous color that is appreciated by many all over the world.

Properties of Chrysoprase

Chrysoprase is a stone that is a translucent green, but it can also be yellow in color.

The color of the stone comes from nickel traces that are found in the stone.

This is a stone that is considered to be among the most valuable in the chalcedony family, and is second to gem silica.

The stone is often used to be made into beads, but it can also be faceted into a shape that is desirable for jewelry or décor.

Chrysoprase is found in shallow areas near rocks with nickel.

When the rocks have been weathered, crevices and fractures may form just beneath the surface of the rock.

Here, chrysoprase will form with time.

This is a stone that is not mined in large quantities because of this method of formation.

It is a mineral that is cut from stone, and not often forming on its own.

When chrysoprase is found, it is usually found with other stones such as dunite, peridotite, and serpentite.

As the rocks weather, nickel may be removed from the chrysoprase locations, but there will always be trace deposits of nickel chrysoprase.

This is a stone that is formed through a process called lateritization.

This simply refers to a weathering process in stones that has some depth to it.

With this weathering, nickeliferous serpentites would form inclusions in the stone chrysoprase is found in.

When chrysoprase is found, it can be found as veins of goethite iron oxide, and can also sometimes be rich in magnesite.

Chrysoprase has a hardness on the Mohs scale of approximately 7, which makes it a very hard stone.

This means that chrysoprase can go in water for brief soaks and be easily cleansed without compromising the integrity of the stone.

Chrysoprase is largely found in Poland and Australia.

However, it is common all over the world, and also found in North America, South Africa, and Europe.

Can Chrysoprase Get Wet?

Yes, chrysoprase can go in water safely for short periods of time.

It has a composition and hardness that helps to keep its integrity when it is exposed to water in any way.

The general rule for stones and water is that the harder the stone, the more it will be able to withstand exposure to water.

Hardness levels will vary by every stone.

Stones with a hardness that are below 6 on the Mohs scale can not handle water as well as harder stones.

To give you an idea of stones and water, diamond is a stone with a hardness of 10 on a scale where 10 is the hardest.

Talc is a mineral with a hardness of 1, with 1 being the softest.

Talc will disintegrate in water where diamonds will not.

When a stone with a hardness below 5 or 6 is exposed to water, it may not disintegrate right away.

It will however form a crack to start.

If left for a long period of time, the stone might crumble all together.

Even if the stone does not break after being exposed to water, it could be weakened.

Regularly wearing or handling a stone below 5 or 6 that has been exposed to water can lead to wear and tear that will result in a weathered rock that might lose its integrity.

Though Chrysoprase is fairly sturdy, we still don’t recommend that you place it in water for extended periods of time.

Even the most durable of stones are vulnerable to water.

Not only can water weaken the physical structure of hard stones, water baths can also do damage to the exterior finish or color of the stone, leaving a shiny stone looking dull or drab after a bath.

How to Clean Chrysoprase

Chrysoprase can be cleaned a number of ways and will do well with a warm water and soap scrub.

As recommended above, don’t leave the stone in the water for too long.

You can also just wipe it with a damp cloth in order to clean it and remove any debris it may have accumulated.

Another common way to clean stones with water is by misting them, and then wiping them gently.

Even stones that are hard and can go in water will do well with this type of cleaning.

Don’t leave your chrysoprase exposed to the sun for too long, or it will lose its color.

If you find that your stone has lost color, it is due to the sun and not water exposure.

Invest in Chrysoprase

When you are looking for a beautiful stone with the vibrancy of jade, chrysoprase is an excellent choice.

Yes, chrysoprase can go in water, and will do well in water if not left there for a long time.