sedimentary
Wishing Stone
Banded Sedimentary Pebble with Quartz Vein
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 on the Mohs scale for the quartz band, 6-7 for the host rock; color is dark gray with a contrasting white or cream band; vitreous to dull luster; cryptocrystalline structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on the Mohs scale for the quartz band, 6-7 for the host rock; color is dark gray with a contrasting white or cream band; vitreous to dull luster; cryptocrystalline structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the deposition and lithification of sediment, later fractured and healed by hydrothermal quartz-rich fluids millions of years ago.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a decorative tumbling stone, collector specimen, or carried as a personal talisman.
Geological facts
Colloquially known as 'wishing stones,' folklore dictates that an unbroken band encircling the entire stone grants a wish.
Field identification & locations
Identified by a continuous, contrasting mineral band wrapping around a smooth water-worn pebble; commonly found in riverbeds and lake shores.
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