mineral

Carnelian or Red Agate

Chalcedony (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, typically displays orange, red, or brownish-red colors with a waxy luster. It has a cryptocrystalline structure and no cleavage.

Identified August 11, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, typically displays orange, red, or brownish-red colors with a waxy luster. It has a cryptocrystalline structure and no cleavage.

Formation & geological history

Forms primarily as silica-rich water percolates through cavities in volcanic or sedimentary rocks, often colored by iron oxide impurities.

Uses & applications

Widely used in jewelry, cabochons, and ornamental carvings. Historically popular for intaglios and seals.

Geological facts

Carnelian has been used for millennia, notably in ancient Egyptian artifacts and Roman signet rings.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its red-orange color, translucency when backlit, and waxy luster. Common in Brazil, India, and Madagascar.

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Placer deposit concentrate containing minerals such as ilmenite, rutile, zircon, and magnetite

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Calcite–fluorite mineral specimen with iron-oxide staining

Calcite (CaCO₃), likely fluorite (CaF₂), with possible quartz and iron/manganese oxides

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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments

Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate

sedimentary

Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)

FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)

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Septarian Pebble

Septarian nodule / Concretion

sedimentary