igneous
Wishing Stone (Quartz-veined Porphyritic Basalt)
Igneous rock with quartz vein (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 for the quartz vein, 6 for the host rock; Color: Dark grey with a white/light-colored vein; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline groundmass with macrocrystalline or massive vein quartz.
- Hardness
- 7 for the quartz vein, 6 for the host rock
- Color
- Dark grey with a white/light-colored vein
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 for the quartz vein, 6 for the host rock; Color: Dark grey with a white/light-colored vein; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline groundmass with macrocrystalline or massive vein quartz.
Formation & geological history
Formed via volcanic activity creating the parent igneous rock, followed by hydrothermal fluid circulation that deposited silica into a fracture, creating the distinct quartz band.
Uses & applications
Often collected as a novelty or 'wishing stone' due to the superstition that making a wish across the continuous ring/band makes it come true; sometimes used in lapidary work.
Geological facts
Rocks featuring a continuous mineral band or ring all the way around are colloquially known as 'wishing stones' or 'whispering stones' in folklore.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified visually by the contrasting light-colored mineral vein cutting sharply through a darker host rock. Commonly found in gravel beds, rivers, and glacial tills.
