Mineral
Moss Agate
Silicon dioxide (SiO2) with inclusions
Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, Color: clear or milky white with green inclusions resembling moss, Luster: vitreous, Crystal structure: cryptocrystalline, Cleavage: none, Specific gravity: 2.58-2.64
- Hardness
- 6
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, Color: clear or milky white with green inclusions resembling moss, Luster: vitreous, Crystal structure: cryptocrystalline, Cleavage: none, Specific gravity: 2.58-2.64
Formation & geological history
Formed from silica-rich fluids filling cavities in volcanic rocks. The green inclusions are primarily due to trace amounts of metal oxides, such as iron or manganese.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in jewelry, lapidary arts, and as a collector's specimen.
Geological facts
Moss Agate is not a true agate as it lacks the characteristic banding, but it is classified as a chalcedony.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive moss-like green inclusions within a translucent to semi-transparent matrix. Found worldwide, with notable deposits in India, Brazil, and the USA.
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Mineral/Rock
Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)
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Metamorphic Rock
![Green Apatite on Albite (Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]) — mineral](https://media.rockidentification.com/2391a63f-fb20-47d5-af9a-2035851eb32e-thumbnail.jpg)
Green Apatite on Albite
Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]
mineral