mineral
White quartz geode
Quartz geode; predominantly microcrystalline and drusy SiO₂
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 Mohs; white to colorless, vitreous to sugary luster, with fine quartz crystals lining a hollow cavity. Quartz is trigonal and has no cleavage, showing conchoidal fracture; specific gravity is about 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 Mohs; white to colorless, vitreous to sugary luster, with fine quartz crystals lining a hollow cavity. Quartz is trigonal and has no cleavage, showing conchoidal fracture; specific gravity is about 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Forms when silica-rich groundwater deposits quartz crystals inside gas vesicles, cavities, or voids in volcanic rock, commonly basalt. The specimen’s exact geological age cannot be determined from the image; geodes range from Paleozoic to recent formations.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative, lapidary, and mineral-collecting specimen; attractive crystal-lined interiors may be mounted or polished. Ordinary white geodes have modest commercial value.
Geological facts
The sparkling interior is drusy quartz, composed of many tiny interlocking crystals. Gray or brown areas may represent chalcedony, iron oxides, or residual host rock.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hollow cavity, rounded nodule shape, and hard glassy quartz crystals that resist scratching by steel. Common sources include Brazil, Uruguay, Mexico, Morocco, and the United States, especially Iowa, Indiana, and Arizona.
