mineral
Agate / Chalcedony
Silicon dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Cream, pale yellow, translucent beige with brownish matrix. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz / chalcedony). Cleavage: None. Specific gravity: 2.58 to 2.64.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Cream, pale yellow, translucent beige with brownish matrix
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Cream, pale yellow, translucent beige with brownish matrix. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz / chalcedony). Cleavage: None. Specific gravity: 2.58 to 2.64.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the deposition of silica-rich groundwater solutions in cavities and vesicles of volcanic or sedimentary rocks, precipitating layer by layer over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in ornamental carvings, tumbling, lapidary arts, jewelry, and prized by mineral collectors.
Geological facts
This specimen exhibits a botryoidal or stalactitic hollow growth habit with a waxy, translucent chalcedony coating over a more weathered host matrix.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its waxy luster, conchoidal fracture, and hardness that easily scratches glass. Common in areas with past volcanic activity or silica-bearing sedimentary deposits.
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