metamorphic
Wishing Stone (Basalt/Metabasalt with Quartz-Feldspar Vein)
Veined Metabasalt / Veined Greywacke
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale, dull earthy luster on host rock with crystalline/glassy luster along the vein, dark grey to greenish-grey matrix with a light pinkish-orange and white mineral vein cutting completely around it.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Wishing Stone (Basalt/Metabasalt with Quartz-Feldspar Vein) in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale, dull earthy luster on host rock with crystalline/glassy luster along the vein, dark grey to greenish-grey matrix with a light pinkish-orange and white mineral vein cutting completely around it.
Formation & geological history
Formed when fractures or cracks developed in a host rock (such as basalt or dark sandstone) due to tectonic pressure. Mineral-rich hydro-thermal fluids flowed through the crack, depositing quartz and feldspar minerals before solidifying. Later rounded by river or ocean erosion.
Uses & applications
Commonly collected as a beach pebble, decorative garden stone, or pocket rock. Folk tradition holds that if the white/pink ring completely encircles the rock without breaking, making a wish while holding it will bring good luck.
Geological facts
In folklore, these pebbles are known as 'Wishing Stones' or 'Wishing Rocks'. To work according to tradition, the mineral band must form a continuous, unbroken line around the entire circumference of the rock.
Field identification & locations
Identified by a distinct, raised or contrasting light-colored mineral vein (quartz, epidote, or feldspar) running through a fine-grained, dark host rock. Very common on glacial, river, and ocean beaches worldwide.
More like this
