sedimentary
Moqui Marble
Ironstone Concretion (Goethite/Hematite layered over Sandstone)
Hardness: 5-5.5 (outer shell); Color: dark brown to rusty red; Luster: dull to sub-metallic; Crystal structure: Orthorhombic (Goethite component); Specific Gravity: 3.3-4.3.
- Hardness
- 5-5
- Color
- dark brown to rusty red
- Luster
- dull to sub-metallic
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-5.5 (outer shell); Color: dark brown to rusty red; Luster: dull to sub-metallic; Crystal structure: Orthorhombic (Goethite component); Specific Gravity: 3.3-4.3.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the precipitation of iron oxides from groundwater flowing through porous sandstone layers, often during the Jurassic period (Navajo Sandstone).
Uses & applications
Primarily collected as geological curiosities, used in metaphysical practices, and occasionally displayed in educational exhibits.
Geological facts
The name 'Moqui' comes from the Hopi word for the deceased; legend says ancestors come to Earth at night to play games with the spheres.
Field identification & locations
Identify by their distinct spherical or disk shape and dark iron-rich outer rinds. Commonly found in the American Southwest, specifically southern Utah.
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