mineral
Botryoidal Chalcedony
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown to grayish color, waxy to vitreous luster, and a microcrystalline quartz structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown to grayish color, waxy to vitreous luster, and a microcrystalline quartz structure.
Formation & geological history
Forms by the deposition of silica-rich solutions in cavities or fractures within rocks at low temperatures.
Uses & applications
Used in lapidary arts, ornamental carvings, and as a popular specimen for mineral collectors.
Geological facts
The rounded, grape-like clusters are known as a botryoidal habit, which forms from multiple concentric nucleation centers.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its distinctive bulbous, bubble-like surface texture and conchoidal fracture. Found worldwide, notably in Brazil, India, and the western United States.
