Rock Identifier
Polished agate/jasper pebble (probable) (Microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂, with iron-oxide and other inclusions) — mineral
mineral

Polished agate/jasper pebble (probable)

Microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂, with iron-oxide and other inclusions

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Gray, cream, brown, and yellow material with a waxy-to-glassy luster and irregular banding; quartz hardness is about 6.5–7 Mohs, with no obvious cleavage and conchoidal fracture. The rounded shape and reflective surface indicate natural abrasion and/or polishing.

Identified More mineral
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Physical properties

Gray, cream, brown, and yellow material with a waxy-to-glassy luster and irregular banding; quartz hardness is about 6.5–7 Mohs, with no obvious cleavage and conchoidal fracture. The rounded shape and reflective surface indicate natural abrasion and/or polishing.

Formation & geological history

Likely formed when silica-rich groundwater filled cavities in volcanic rock, later developing chalcedony bands and iron staining; the exact geological age cannot be determined from the image. Common sources include Brazil, Uruguay, India, Madagascar, Mexico, and the western United States.

Uses & applications

Used for lapidary cabochons, beads, carvings, ornaments, and occasionally decorative stone; this piece appears suitable as a small cabochon or display pebble.

Geological facts

Agate is a variety of chalcedony, composed of cryptocrystalline quartz rather than large visible crystals. The yellow coloration commonly comes from limonite or other iron minerals.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its fine-grained, translucent-to-opaque body, curved banding, waxy polish, and resistance to scratching by steel; confirm quartz hardness with a careful scratch test. The image could also represent jasper or silicified material, so laboratory testing would be needed for certainty.