Identity help. Thank you.
28th Jan 2017 01:02 UTCMichael Harwell
Scratches easy with knife.
Even the white mineral coating the outside is semi translucent. Not as translucent as the olive or pale green mineral on the inside.
The white patchy stuff is an alge or something like that.
Thank you for your input.
Broke a slice off. My guess was a chalcedony of sorts as well because I did collect it in an area rich in Pleistocene gravel which is a mixture of all sorts of chalcedony , jasper, chert quartzect. Great hunting for semi precious stones etc. for arts and craft projects for my kids.....me too if I had time. ( by the way what can I use to polish chalcedony with. I don't like mineral oil as it changes the color of the crystal quartz that is mixed with my jasper samples. Learned that one over time. It was suggested I use aluminum oxcide? I wish I had more time to take close ups and post some these colorful stones under beach and river collecting. I have some really beautiful multi colored jasper, moonstones, and huge assortment of the Pleistocene gravel mixtures. Bend down to pick one up but there are three or 4 pieces right there next to it. Hard to stop. However, if I can I am going to concentrate on the moonstones/agate and carnelian. But it hard not to pick up a recycled mixed up and extremely colorful jasper quartz etc combinations. It is has been written that this area has the most colorful beach stones in all of California. Kinda hidden and off the radar. Other locations have more written about them. It's a real gem of a location. Maybe see one ir two of the same people but vary rarely. Usually just me and the kids have miles of beach and not a sole in site.
My question is which particular kind of chalcedony is this one. Textually you may have a very narrow definition of chalcedony but online there are pages of different forms of chalcedony with all sorts of classifications and names. This sample is more pure than a lot of samples I collect that contain jasper/quartz/ agate chaceldony mixture etc etc. all recycled and mixed and matched together. it's also common to find carnelian and nice moonstones. Found 6 abalone shells ( 6-8 inches across) there last weekend. ( in the first minute. ) The ocean had its way of classifying the shells, gravel and rocks and sand into there respective locations along the beach. and then setting them all within 10 feet of each other up at the high tide line behind a rock.
But this piece I posted is so large and newly broken open, as Harold pointed out, that it had me interested. I was informed that there is a large quartz formation out there. Not sure though. However, this " newly cracked open" feature is contradicted, in a way, by the white algae spots. Thus it must have sitting in the ocean long enough for this to grow. Then spit up real quickly with the largest ground swell in a good 5-10 years.
My question is which particular kind of chalcedony is this one. Textually you may have a very narrow definition of chalcedony but online there are pages of different forms of chalcedony with all sorts of classifications and names. This sample is more pure than a lot of samples I collect that contain jasper/quartz/ agate chaceldony mixture etc etc. all recycled and mixed and matched together. it's also common to find carnelian and nice moonstones. Found 6 abalone shells ( 6-8 inches across) there last weekend. ( in the first minute. ) The ocean had its way of classifying the shells, gravel and rocks and sand into there respective locations along the beach. and then setting them all within 10 feet of each other up at the high tide line behind a rock.
But this piece I posted is so large and newly broken open, as Harold pointed out, that it had me interested. I was informed that there is a large quartz formation out there. Not sure though. However, this " newly cracked open" feature is contradicted, in a way, by the white algae spots. Thus it must have sitting in the ocean long enough for this to grow. Then spit up real quickly with the largest ground swell in a good 5-10 years.
Two pictures of the slice hammered off shown in the sun.
The last is not related to this other than found in similar location.
Went outside to take a picture of the slice and these where left there by my daughters so I thought I'd inquire the true identity. I have many that are banded agate very translucent. Name for banded translucent ones: Moonstone or banded agate? These pictured don't have any obvious signs of banding but seem similiar or very close? Identity? Thx
