Carnelian

[GafiQ]

Hi, 

I wanted to know...

Can I make Carnelian (SiO₂) By burning silicon at my house?

 

 

THX

[DrP]

I think the answer is no.  I think Carnelian is a red coloured gemstone which gets it's colour from Iron oxide impurities. All the different coloured quartzes arise from different impurities. By burning silicon you won't get a gemstone - you will get a silica ash (if you get the fire hot enough for combustion to progress).  

 

[Strange]

Carnelian (and several other semi-precious stones) is a form of quartz. So is sand. So you might be better off starting with sand and adding the impurities (iron oxide?) that give carnelian its colour, melting it and then letting it cool very, very slowly so it grows crystals. I have no idea what you would end up with, though. Possibly just a lump of discoloured quartz.

Also it would require extremely high temperatures and might cost more in electricity than just buying carnelian. 

[John Cuthber]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumed_silica