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Onyx
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The name onyx comes from the Greek onux, meaning fingernail. It was originally a term for a type of alabaster that resembled the human fingernail. Over time the term became associated with black and darkly banded agates due to similarities in patterns. In terms of precious stones, the word is exclusively used for the harder agate material. However, the term is still sometimes resurrected for carvings made form cave onyx or other alabasterites.
There is some issue with the name onyx because it has historically been applied to various other forms of agate, and tends to overlap with sard and sardonyx. When reading the older lapidaries, it is necessarily to examine the physical description of the stone in order to discern which specific stone the writer is discussing. To help clear up the confusion the following folklore specifically concerns the modern onyx, and separate sections were created for the agate, sard, and sardonyx.
Though usually thought of as black, onyx is a type of agate that comes in a series of alternating bands of dark shades. If the bands are interspaced with black and white, or orange and white, it is known as sardonyx. Most black onyx on the market today has been dyed to cover up the banding in order to make the stone solid black and mimic higher grades of the material.
Onyx is unique for its dark history in folklore, while most stones have positive virtues attached to them the folkloric properties of the onyx are overwhelmingly negative. The stone was rumored to cool passions, and extinguish love. If given as a gift to a lover it would end the relationship, and if given to lovers it would cause discord between them. It would make the wearer become addled and frivolous.
Some early lapidaries claimed that jewelry made from onyx would make you subject to attacks by demons and evil spirits. That the onyx would cause nightmares and dreams of the most horrid variety if worn at night; and cause squabbles, misunderstandings, and even lawsuits if worn during the day. According to Marbodus only the sard or sardonyx can counteract the negative properties of the onyx, and you should never wear one without the other.
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Colors
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Black with dark banding
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Locations
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Onyx is found worldwide.
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Compisition
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SiO2, with impurities
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Hardness
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6
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