ORCA
CHALCEDONY.
The Family
The name Orca Chalcedony originates from its black and white pattern, reminiscent of the Orca whale. Much like these incredible mammals, Orca Chalcedony is thought to be a very family-focused crystal. It is believed that Orca Chalcedony helps to affirm family bonds, encourage open communication, and promote harmony within the family pod. Spiritual peeps use Orca Chalcedony to promote agility and adaptability to new situations, innovative problem-solving, and add some hyper-focused energy to meditations and yoga practices.
Orca Chalcedony is a form of cryptocrystalline Quartz, where the crystal structure is too small to even distinguish with a microscope. The base is a translucent blueish-grey to black Chalcedony with patches of opaque white Chalcedony. Orca Chalcedony is a tradename or marketing name which is not used in mineralogical terms. It is also sometimes referred to as Orca Agate; however, it does not have the banding required to be classified as a true Agate. Orca Chalcedony only comes from Madagascar. There are concerns about the ethical mining practices in Madagascar, particularly regarding poor working conditions, child labour, and environmental damage.
Buyer’s Guide to Orca Chalcedony
Both private buyers and retail buyers should be aware that some Orca Chalcedony is being dyed. Its natural colour is blue-ish grey to black with white opaque patches. However, I have seen it dyed very bright colours, including orange, yellow, red, and blue! The dye particles attach to the white parts and crack lines of the Chalcedony while the dark areas remain much the same. The majority of pieces that I saw were on carved wooden stands from China, so my best guess is that the Madagascan Orca Chalcedony is passing through the crystal production centres in China, being dyed and then sold as something else.
Private Buyers
Orca Chalcedony looks its best when you can see the pattern. As the white patches are usually large, Orca Chalcedony generally doesn’t really work as a pocket stone. The smallest size you would want to buy is a large palm stone. It also looks great as a carved freeform shape or a flame shape. These are great for sacred spaces, altars or displays. Its organic pattern really doesn’t seem to suit angular objects like towers and cubes, so I would avoid those. It has a free-flowing energy, so it seems to need a free-flowing shape. Look for a high-shine polish and distinct white patches. The bluer the base Chalcedony, the more expensive.
Ethical mineral buyers may wish to avoid this crystal for now until the mining situation in Madagascar becomes more regulated.
Retail Buyers
Retailers looking to claim ethical or sustainable sources may need to think twice before stocking this crystal. As mentioned, the mining situation in Madagascar has raised a number of concerns regarding labour rights and environmental damage (2025), so you may wish to investigate the current situation before making any purchasing decisions. Usually, this material is imported directly from Madagascar to local wholesalers, but a good portion now passes through the polishing centres in China and is imported via that route. Consider the additional Carbon Miles for this journey if you are tracking sustainability.
If you do wish to stock Orca Chalcedony, then look for good quality carving with a high shine polish. The best sellers will be those that have a more blueish or very black base colour and distinct white patches. Don’t bother with tumbles, these also aren’t offered a lot. Palm stones will sell well, but any pieces with poor white markings will be left on the shelf. Freeform carvings and flames sell well, and you should expect to pay around €35-40 per Kg.
For those selling via an online store, make sure you inform customers that they will not receive the actual crystal in the picture to avoid complaints. Hand sort this material so that each piece has good white markings and discard/give away any with little to no white patches or of poor quality to avoid disappointed customers.
Quick Guide | Orca Chalcedony
Zodiac: Orca Chalcedony is associated with the zodiac sign Pisces.
Ruling Planet: The ruling planet for Orca Chalcedony is Neptune.
Chakra: Orca Chalcedony is associated with the Throat (Vishuddha) Chakra.
Element: Orca Chalcedony is aligned with the element of Water.
Crystal Charging: Orca Chalcedony can be charged under the light of a Full Moon or with fresh water.
Crystal Elixir: Orca Chalcedony is water-safe, so it can be used to make crystal elixir.
Crystal Care: Orca Chalcedony can be cleaned with warm, soapy water or a soft cloth.
The chemical formula for Orca Chalcedony: SiO₂