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The name comes from an ancient Greek town Chalkedon, a modified term of Calchedon which is found on all the town's coins.

They are semi-precious gemstones made up of a microcrystalline/cryptocrystalline variety of quartz. What this means is that the crystals are just too tiny to see with the naked eye. Chalcedony comes in just about all kinds of colours and in combination of colours.

Chalcedony comes in a wide range of varieties. Some of these include: Agate, Carnelian, Chrysoprase, Heliotrope, Moss agate, Chrome Chalcedony, Onyx, Jasper, Petrified Wood, Bloodstone, Fire Agate, Tiger's Eye, Chrysocolla, and Sardonyx, just to name a few.

Chalcedony has been used since the bronze age. Examples of chalcedony seals have been found dating back since the 1800's. They were used in jewelry making such as to carve intaglios, make ring bezels, and beads.

From ancient times to today, it is believed that chalcedony gemstones have many healing properties. The stones are nurturing and promote generosity, they aid with emotional balance, stamina, vitality, endurance, energy, kindliness and friendliness. They ease feelings of hostility, uncertainties, negative thoughts and emotions, and mollify nightmares. They are also believed to aid with dementia and senility symptoms and are able to heal problems with eyes, gallbladders, bones, spleens and blood and circulatory symptoms.