Cacholong

Cacholong, also known as Kalmuck agate,^[1] is a form of common opal,^[1] although it is often mistaken for agate or chalcedony,^{[citation needed]} and Parker Cleaveland claimed it was a variety of chalcedony.^[2]: 249 It has a milky white colour^[3] that can also be described as bluish white or cream.^[4] With a Mohs hardness of about 6,^{[citation needed]} it is used for carving, cameos, etc.^{[citation needed]} The word "cacholong" has also been used as a synonym for actinolite.^[4]

Cacholong, in the Geological Museum of Kiev University

Found in Austria, Czech Republic, Mongolia and Uzbekistan,^{[citation needed]} its name possibly comes from the Cach River in Bukhara.^[2]: 249 It is also known to occur in Iceland; in the town of Huttenberg, Austria; in Deerfield^[2]: 249 and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, U.S.; in the Faroe Islands; in Elba, Italy; and in Spain;^[3] and in Nova Scotia, Canada.^[5]

The gemstone sculpture Sultry Midday by Vasily Konovalenko, which depicted two women having tea, incorporated a cacholong teacup.^[6]