Chiquitanita (variety of Chalcedony)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Chiquitanita is named from the Chiquitos Province, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia where it is found. Chiquitanita is a chromium bearing variety of Chalcedony.

Discovery year unknown; IMA status: Not Valid (a variety of Chalcedony)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

SiO₂ + Cr

Silicon Dioxide (Quartz) + Chromium

More Information

Chiquitanita is a variety of Chalcedony, Quartz.
For more information please see the Chalcedony and Quartz information pages.
 

Synonyms:

Chiquitanita, Chrome-Chrysoprase, Chrome-Chalcedony, Chromium Chalcedony, Mtorodite, Mtorolite
 

Additional Information: 

Mindat.org  (Chiquitanita)
Mindat.org  (Chrome-Chalcedony)
Mindat.org  (Chalcedony)
Mindat.org  (Quartz)
Webmineral.com  (Quartz)
 

View mineral photos:

Chiquitanita Mineral Photos and Locations

Chiquitanita is a trade name (marketing term) for a rare green, chromium-bearing variety of Chalcedony from the Chiquitania region (Chiquitos Province) of Bolivia. It is the same material often called "Mtorodite" or "Mtorolite" after the discovery near the mining town of Mtoroshanga, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe. By any of these names, Chiquitanita, Mtorodite, Mtorolite or Chrome-Chalcedony, they are all a variety of Chalcedony colored by small quantities of chromium. They are all similar in appearance to the better known Chrysoprase, but differ in that Chrome Chalcedony is colored by chromium while Chrysoprase is colored by nickel. The two can be distinguished with a Chelsea color filter, as Mtorodite (chrome Chalcedony) will appear red, and Chrysoprase will appear green. Chrome Chalcedony, unlike Chrysoprase, may also contain tiny black specks of chromite. Chrome Chalcedony, along with Agate, Carnelian, Chrysoprase, Heliotrope (blood stone), Onyx and others, are all varieties of Chalcedony which is a cryptocrystalline form of Quartz.

Chrome Chalcedony was widely used in jewellery and seals throughout the Roman Empire. Its earliest use appears to have occurred around the first century AD and then disappeared from use sometime in the second century. The source of this material is unclear. Pliny the Elder described it as coming from India, but no deposits have been found there. It may have come from Anatolia (in modern day Turkey) where deposits are known to exist. Chrome Chalcedony was not "discovered" again until 1955 near the mining town of Mtorochanga in Zimbabwe. A small number of other sources of chromium-bearing Chalcedony have been reported since the mid-1980's. It has also been discovered in western Australia; Saricakaya, Eskisehir, Central Anatolia, Turkey; Ural mountains, Russia and from Rincón del Tigre, Chiquitos Province, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia.
 

  
Chiquitanita gems for sale:

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