Chrysoprase
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Jsj1771&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="User:Jsj1771 (page does not exist)">James St. John</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameChrysoprase
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lusterwaxy
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorsgreen, apple-green, yellowish-green
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityAustralia
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, ornamental stone, collector
Associated Mineralsserpentine, magnesite, talc, goethite
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen is a vibrant apple-green, cryptocrystalline variety of chalcedony (quartz), displaying a smooth, waxy luster and a somewhat translucent appearance.
Geological Context
Chrysoprase forms as a secondary mineral in weathered nickel-rich serpentinites or other ultramafic rocks, where nickel-bearing solutions precipitate silica. It is typically found in veins and nodules within these altered rock types.
