mineral

Yellow-brown quartz/chalcedony fragment

Quartz, SiO₂; likely microcrystalline chalcedony with iron-oxide staining

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Translucent honey-yellow to brown, waxy-to-glassy luster, irregular conchoidal fracture, and no obvious cleavage. Quartz hardness is Mohs 7; specific gravity is about 2.60–2.65, though the apparent surface may be weathered or coated.

Identified August 9, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely silica deposited from groundwater or volcanic/hydrothermal fluids, later colored by iron oxides; its exact age and host rock cannot be determined from the image. It may also be a fragment of yellow jasper or agate.

Uses & applications

Used as a lapidary material for cabochons, beads, carvings, and decorative stone; comparable common fragments have little commercial value.

Geological facts

The pale curved fracture surface and translucency are consistent with quartz-family material. Color alone is not diagnostic because iron staining, clay, and surface coatings can produce similar hues.

Field identification & locations

Common in volcanic terrains, hydrothermal veins, river gravels, and weathered silica-rich rocks worldwide. Test for glass-like conchoidal fracture and scratch glass; it should not be scratched by a steel knife, unlike calcite or gypsum.