Pink chalcedony nodule

Pink chalcedony noduleLocale: Yankee Dog Claim, Hidalgo, New Mexico Approx size: 1. 5" Approx weight: 34g Pink chalcedony nodules, sometimes called "chalcedony desert roses," have been discovered across the southwest. They were prolific from this locale back in the 1990s, but today are much harder to come byat least with any size or quality. The material is known for its strong UV reaction and undulating ropy, botryoidal forms. Pink chalcedony often grows shapes like a

Locale: Yankee Dog Claim, Hidalgo, New Mexico

Approx size: 1.5"

Approx weight: 34g

Pink chalcedony nodules, sometimes called "chalcedony desert roses," have been discovered across the southwest. They were prolific from this locale back in the 1990s, but today are much harder to come by—at least with any size or quality. 

The material is known for its strong UV reaction and undulating ropy, botryoidal forms. Pink chalcedony often grows shapes like a nest, cup, or knobby "ear" with raised rims of concentric banding. 'Agate' refers to chalcedony with banded color, whereas this chalcedony has banded structure. It has a dynamic, fluid appearance similar to its relative hyalite, as if someone piped icing on a cake when it was still warm so it's starting to melt down the sides.

This small specimen has a nice very light pink coloration and good translucency, with some more opaque whitish layers. This forms agate banding of white and light pink, most visible on the side where if forms white rings. There is an excellent formation with a disc of chalcedony with concentric rings, and small sparkling quartz crystals surrounding it. Chalcedony is the cryptocrystalline version of quartz with similar requirements for growth, which is why chalcedony can commonly feature quartz crystals.

UV reactivity this material has an excellent UV reaction, most pieces glowing strong green under 365nm UV light. The strongest UV reaction occurs at the center of the pink chalcedony "ear" on the specimen; the whiter material is less reactive. No phosphorescence detected.