mineral

Tumbled chalcedony (likely carnelian or common agate)

Microcrystalline quartz, SiO₂; chalcedony variety

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 6.5–7 Mohs; pale honey, cream, and orange-brown coloration; waxy to vitreous luster; cryptocrystalline structure with no visible cleavage; specific gravity about 2.60. The smooth rounded form indicates natural or artificial tumbling/polishing.

Identified August 14, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms when silica-rich groundwater fills cavities and fractures in volcanic rocks, precipitating as microcrystalline quartz. Individual pieces may range from relatively young weathering deposits to Paleozoic or older host-rock environments.

Uses & applications

Used for lapidary objects, beads, cabochons, ornaments, and decorative stone; tougher, strongly colored material may be sold as carnelian or agate.

Geological facts

The translucent cream-orange appearance is consistent with chalcedony, though the image cannot confirm a precise variety or whether iron causes the coloration.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its waxy luster, translucency, conchoidal fracture, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; it should scratch glass. Common sources include Brazil, Uruguay, India, Madagascar, and the western United States.