mineral
Yellow Chalcedony (or Yellow Jasper / Agate)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Honey-yellow to butter-yellow; Luster: Waxy to resinous when polished; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline/trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.64.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Honey-yellow to butter-yellow
- Luster
- Waxy to resinous when polished
Identified More mineral →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Honey-yellow to butter-yellow; Luster: Waxy to resinous when polished; Crystal structure: Microcrystalline/trigonal; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.64.
Formation & geological history
Formed from silica-rich fluid deposition at low temperatures in cavities, fractures, or sedimentary rocks over thousands to millions of years.
Uses & applications
Polished into cabochons for jewelry, beads, lapidary carvings, and collected as decorative polished stones.
Geological facts
Microcrystalline quartz includes agate, jasper, and chalcedony. The yellow hue is typically produced by trace amounts of iron oxides embedded within the cryptocrystalline quartz structure.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its waxy luster, smooth polished round surface, yellow translucency/opacity, and high scratch resistance (will scratch glass). Commonly found in Madagascar, Brazil, India, and the USA.
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