Marzite

Marzite is a semiprecious stone within the chalcedony family of gems. It can be found in all shades of opaque reddish violet, from almost lilac to a dark plummy shade, but is most commonly somewhere in between. It has a slick, almost greasy lustre when polished, and a pleasantly smooth slick feel.

Origin

As the name suggests, marzite is most abundant in the Sirdabi province of Marzum, as well as in the neighboring southernmost regions of Rahoum. Smaller deposits have also been found in Raziya.

Although it can be mined or quarried, it is more common for marzite to be dug up and sieved from alluvial deposits. In Marzum, such deposits have built up from the weathering of the great old volcanic ranges over millennia of alternating monsoon rains and dry heat. Weathered stone and silt then washes down in great quantity via the many permanent and seasonal waterways that originate in the mountains.

Although most alluvia likely flows into the major rivers of Marzum and from there into the Sea of Sala'ah, it is on the extremely dry northern side of the mountain ranges that the end result of this process is most striking, and where marzite is typically recovered. For it is only in these dry and landlocked regions that the weathered bones of the mountains are deposited accessibly on dry land, forming vast fans of gravelly debris that spill out into the surrounding desert.

Uses

Marzite is one of the most treasured stones for use in aqiq jewelry, due to its association with the Sirdabi prophet al-Azad. Thanks to its alluringly smooth and silky texture it is also prized as a worry stone.

Marzite is accredited with healing and protective properties, and has long been incorporated into amulets and lapidary healing practices. Its use as an antidote to numerous kind of poison has brought it still greater renown, and finely crushed marzumite powder has been considered indispensable by many a caliph and emperor.