mineral
Quartz (Chert/Chalcedony flake)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Translucent white/clear, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (though microcrystalline here), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Translucent white/clear, Luster: Vitreous to waxy, Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (though microcrystalline here), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed through the precipitation of silica from groundwater or as microcrystalline nodules in sedimentary limestone/chalk beds. This specific piece appears to be a lithic flake or debitage.
Uses & applications
Historically used for stone tools (knapping) due to its sharp edges. Modern uses include electronics, abrasives, and as architectural aggregate.
Geological facts
This specimen shows a classic conchoidal (shell-like) fracture, which creates edges sharper than a surgeon's steel scalpel. Microcrystalline quartz is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's surface.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass), its translucent appearance, and the curved, sharp edges characteristic of silica-rich stones. Commonly found in riverbeds and limestone regions.
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Epidote
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Nephrite Jade
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Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)
Metamorphic Rock
![Biotite Schist (Biotite-rich Schist [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2]) — metamorphic](https://media.rock.id/9ca564b5-bc87-402b-965a-69b21f9aa6bf-thumbnail.jpg)
Biotite Schist
Biotite-rich Schist [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2]
metamorphic