igneous
Wishing Stone (Basalt with Quartz Vein)
Basalt containing a microcrystalline quartz (SiO2) or calcite vein
Hardness: 6-7 (basalt/quartz); Color: dark grey to black host rock with a white or cream stripe; Luster: dull to vitreous; Structure: fine-grained (aphanitic) host with crystalline vein; Cleavage: none.
- Hardness
- 6-7 (basalt/quartz)
- Color
- dark grey to black host rock with a white or cream stripe
- Luster
- dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (basalt/quartz); Color: dark grey to black host rock with a white or cream stripe; Luster: dull to vitreous; Structure: fine-grained (aphanitic) host with crystalline vein; Cleavage: none.
Formation & geological history
Formed when molten lava cools rapidly on the surface. The white stripe is a hydrothermal vein formed when mineral-rich water filled a crack in the rock and crystallized. Commonly tumbled smooth by river or ocean water.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as pocket stones, decorative beach decor, or in jewelry as pendants. Basalt itself is used in road base and construction.
Geological facts
In folklore, these are called Wishing Stones. If you find one with a continuous white line wrapping all the way around, it is said to grant a wish if you give it away to a friend or make a wish for yourself.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by looking for a dark, smooth, rounded pebble with a single, unbroken white line encircling it. Commonly found on cobble beaches and in riverbeds globally.
