metamorphic
Wishing Stone (Basalt/Metagreywacke with Quartz/Calcite Vein)
Veined Metasediment / Mafic Rock (SiO2 with Quartz vein)
Hardness 6-7 on Mohs scale; dark grey to black body with a distinct white continuous vein; dull to sub-vitreous luster; fine-grained texture; rounded and smoothed by water erosion.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Wishing Stone (Basalt/Metagreywacke with Quartz/Calcite 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; dark grey to black body with a distinct white continuous vein; dull to sub-vitreous luster; fine-grained texture; rounded and smoothed by water erosion.
Formation & geological history
Formed when hydrothermal fluids carrying dissolved silica or calcite fill fractures in a host rock (such as basalt, slate, or greywacke) under pressure. River or beach action subsequently rounds and smooths the stone.
Uses & applications
Commonly collected as pocket stones, worry stones, lucky charms, or for landscape decor and craft painting.
Geological facts
Folklore traditions hold that a 'wishing stone'—a dark pebble with a continuous white line circling it entirely—will grant a wish if you make it while tracing the line with your thumb or throw it into water.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by looking for smooth beach or river pebbles with a single, unbroken white vein running around the perimeter. Found along rocky coastlines, gravel bars, and glacial drift deposits worldwide.
More like this
