








Petit Blue Chalcedony Crystal Cluster
Petit thumbnail-sized Blue Chalcedony crystal Cluster from Moquegua, Peru
Size: 28 x 24 x 15 mm
Weight: 11 g
Petit thumbnail-sized Blue Chalcedony crystal Cluster from Moquegua, Peru
Size: 28 x 24 x 15 mm
Weight: 11 g
Petit thumbnail-sized Blue Chalcedony crystal Cluster from Moquegua, Peru
Size: 28 x 24 x 15 mm
Weight: 11 g
Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of silica, composed of very fine intergrowths of quartz and moganite. These are both silica minerals, but they differ in that quartz has a trigonal crystal structure, while moganite is monoclinic. Blue Chalcedony forms botryoidal crystals.
Blue chalcedony forms in a variety of geological settings, but it is commonly associated with volcanic rocks and can be found in geodes, cavities, and fractures within these rocks. It often develops as a result of silica-rich fluids that percolate through these cavities and deposit tiny quartz crystals over time. The blue coloration is typically attributed to the presence of blue minerals such as celadonite or other manganese-bearing compounds.
Characteristics and Properties:
Color: Blue chalcedony is known for its soft and soothing blue color, which can range from pale to vivid blue. The color can sometimes have hints of gray or green.
Transparency: It is typically translucent, allowing light to pass through, which gives it a lovely glow when polished or cut into gemstones.
Hardness: Blue chalcedony has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7, which makes it relatively durable and suitable for use in jewelry.
Luster: It has a waxy or vitreous luster, which enhances its visual appeal when polished.
Pattern: Blue chalcedony often displays banding or concentric ring patterns, especially when cut and polished.
Fracture: It has a conchoidal fracture, meaning it breaks with smooth, curved surfaces like broken glass.
Location in Peru: Rumipata, Ichuña, Provincia General Sánchez Cerro, Moquegua, Perú