Rock Identifier
Botryoidal Chalcedony (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)) — mineral
mineral

Botryoidal Chalcedony

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, orange to reddish-brown color, waxy to vitreous luster, microcrystalline quartz structure with rounded grape-like globular habits.

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Physical properties

Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, orange to reddish-brown color, waxy to vitreous luster, microcrystalline quartz structure with rounded grape-like globular habits.

Formation & geological history

Formed via low-temperature precipitation from silica-rich aqueous solutions filling cavities in volcanic or sedimentary rocks over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Popular among mineral collectors and used for cabochons, lapidary art, and ornamental gemstone jewelry.

Geological facts

The distinctive bulbous surface forms when silica gel layers deposit consecutively around nuclei in cavities.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its curved bubble-like surface and microcrystalline hardness; commonly found in worldwide volcanic regions such as the western United States, India, and Madagascar.