mineral

Yellow Quartz (Chalcedony)

Quartz / Chalcedony (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)

Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Translucent yellow to honey-orange; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (cryptocrystalline); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.64

Hardness: 6
Color: Translucent yellow to honey-orange
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified March 21, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed through the deposition of silica from groundwater in cavities of various rock types, or as rounded pebbles through mechanical weathering and transport in riverbeds and coastal environments.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in lapidary work for cabochons and beads, as decorative stones in landscaping, and as pocket stones for collectors interested in metaphysics.

Geological facts

Yellow chalcedony is often found as beach pebbles. The smooth, rounded shape of this specimen is a result of millions of years of abrasive tumbling by waves and sand, a process known as 'natural tumbling'.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its waxy luster, translucency when held to light, and inability to be scratched by a steel knife. Commonly found on beaches near volcanic regions or areas with high silica content.

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