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Green onyx

Gem guideOctober 2026

"Green onyx" is a trade name for two different stones. The banded green-and-honey stone carved into bowls, vases and coasters is onyx marble, a soft banded calcite mostly from Pakistan. The deep, even green stone in rings and pendants is chalcedony, a hard form of quartz, dyed green. Both are real stone and both are fine to buy; they just need different care. The natural green chalcedony is chrysoprase, coloured apple green by nickel.

Part of the gem world, laid out. Its orange cousin: carnelian.

From the ground to your hand

Two journeys in one: onyx marble from the quarry to a carving, and natural green chalcedony from the ground to jewellery.

  1. 01 In the quarry (step 1 of 4)

    Onyx marble cut open: banded calcite laid down layer by layer by mineral springs.

    Onyx marble cut open: banded calcite laid down layer by layer by mineral springs.

    Real specimen. Photo: Lysippos (German Wikipedia), CC BY-SA 2.0 de.

  2. 02 Carved (step 2 of 4)

    Pakistan green onyx marble, hand-carved into a vase.

    Pakistan green onyx marble, hand-carved into a vase.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

  3. 03 Green chalcedony, natural (step 3 of 4)

    Chrysoprase rough from Australia: chalcedony that grew green, coloured by nickel.

    Chrysoprase rough from Australia: chalcedony that grew green, coloured by nickel.

    Real specimen. Photo: James St. John, CC BY-SA 4.0.

  4. 04 Set (step 4 of 4)

    Faceted chrysoprase beads strung as a choker.

    Faceted chrysoprase beads strung as a choker.

    Amazon listing photo. See it on Amazon

The two stones sold as green onyx

Onyx marble vs dyed green chalcedony
Onyx marble ("Pakistan green onyx")Green onyx in jewellery
What it isBanded calcite (calcium carbonate), deposited layer by layer by mineral springs and in cavesChalcedony (microcrystalline quartz), dyed green
LookTranslucent bands of pale green, cream, honey and rustEven, saturated emerald green, no bands
HardnessAbout 3: a knife scratches itAbout 7: harder than steel
Vinegar testFizzesNothing happens
Used forBowls, vases, coasters, carvings, tilesRings, pendants, earrings, beads
Main sourceBalochistan, Pakistan; also Mexico and ArgentinaChalcedony from India and Brazil, dyed

True onyx is something else again: chalcedony with straight, parallel bands, classically black and white, used for cameos. Green is not one of its natural colours, which is why green onyx jewellery is dyed. Calling banded calcite "onyx" is an old habit of the stone trade, and you will also see it as "Mexican onyx" or "onyx marble".

How to tell them apart at home

Natural green chalcedony: chrysoprase and chrome chalcedony

If you want green chalcedony that grew green, there are two. Chrysoprase is apple to mint green, coloured by tiny amounts of a nickel-rich clay mineral; the best today comes from Marlborough in Queensland, Australia, and the historic mines were at Szklary in Poland. Chrome chalcedony, sometimes called mtorolite, is coloured by chromium and comes mainly from near Mtoroshanga on the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe. Both are softer, slightly milkier greens than dyed green onyx, and they cost more.

Where green onyx and green chalcedony come from

Tap a pin. The map includes Idar-Oberstein in Germany, not a mine but the town whose craftsmen perfected dyeing agate and chalcedony in the 1800s. For every other gem, open the full gem world map.

Pins mark mining districts, not exact mines. Drag to move, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap a pin to read about it. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

List of every place on the map (7)
  • Green onyx and chrysoprase: Chagai district, Balochistan, Pakistan. Source of the banded green and honey "Pakistan green onyx" carved into bowls, vases and coasters. It is onyx marble, a banded calcite, not true onyx.
  • Green onyx and chrysoprase: Tecali, Puebla, Mexico. Mexican onyx marble, carved here for centuries and once sliced thin enough to glaze church windows.
  • Green onyx and chrysoprase: La Toma, San Luis, Argentina. Banded green and honey onyx marble, quarried for carvings and decoration.
  • Green onyx and chrysoprase: Marlborough, Queensland, Australia. The best chrysoprase today: apple-green chalcedony coloured by nickel. Australia is the leading producer.
  • Green onyx and chrysoprase: Szklary, Poland. Historic chrysoprase mines that supplied much of the early chrysoprase used in European jewellery.
  • Green onyx and chrysoprase: Mtoroshanga, Great Dyke, Zimbabwe. Chrome chalcedony ("mtorolite"), a natural green chalcedony coloured by chromium.
  • Green onyx and chrysoprase: Idar-Oberstein, Germany. Not a mine: the gem town whose craftsmen perfected dyeing agate and chalcedony in the 1800s, the technique behind most "green onyx" jewellery.

Good green onyx pieces on Amazon

Onyx marble carvings and homeware (banded calcite)

Green onyx jewellery (dyed green chalcedony)

Natural green chalcedony (chrysoprase)

Care

Onyx marble: soft and sensitive to acid. Keep lemon, vinegar, wine and fruit juice off it, wipe spills straight away, wash with mild soap and water, and dry it. A coat of stone sealer helps on bowls and coasters. Dyed chalcedony jewellery: hard and tough; clean with warm soapy water and keep it away from solvents, which can affect the dye.

How these stones are cut

Onyx marble is soft, so it is turned on a lathe into bowls and vases and hand-carved into figures, work that is quick on calcite and would take far longer in quartz. Green chalcedony is cut as and beads, or faceted for a glassy sparkle. See gem cuts from easiest to hardest for how each kind of cut compares in skill and cost.

Keep going

Carnelian Where gems are mined (map) Gem treatments explained The gem world, laid out

Frequently Asked Questions

Is green onyx a real stone?

The name is used for two real but different materials. Green onyx carvings and homeware are onyx marble, a banded calcite mined in Pakistan and elsewhere. Green onyx jewellery is chalcedony, a form of quartz, dyed green. True onyx is black-and-white banded chalcedony, and green is not one of its natural colours.

How can I tell onyx marble from chalcedony?

Hardness and acid. Onyx marble is calcite, about 3 on the scale: a steel knife scratches it, and a drop of vinegar on a hidden spot fizzes. Chalcedony is about 7: steel will not scratch it and vinegar does nothing.

Is dyed green onyx fake?

It is real chalcedony with a colour added, which is long-standing trade practice for this material and is permanent under normal wear. It should be cheap. Natural green chalcedony is chrysoprase (nickel, apple green) or chrome chalcedony (chromium, from Zimbabwe), and those cost more.

Can I use a green onyx bowl for food?

For dry food, yes. Calcite reacts with acids, so lemon, vinegar, wine, tomato and fruit juice will etch and dull the polish. Wash with plain water and mild soap and dry it.

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Sources