Agatized dinosaur bone is a fossilized material where cellular structure has been replaced by chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz. Collectors prize specimens that exhibit distinct bone cell patterns, often displayed through cabochon cutting or polished slabs that reveal intricate vascular structures.
Is this agatized dinosaur bone?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch agatized dinosaur bone with a known reference. Agatized Dinosaur Bone sits at Mohs 6.5-7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Agatized Dinosaur Bone leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Agatized Dinosaur Bone typically shows a vitreous to waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, brown, tan, black, white, orange.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Agatized Dinosaur Bone vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to waxy on Agatized Dinosaur Bone and waxy on Jasper.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to waxy on Agatized Dinosaur Bone and vitreous on Wood Opal.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to waxy on Agatized Dinosaur Bone and waxy on Chalcedony.
Often found alongside agatized dinosaur bone
Minerals reported to co-occur with agatized dinosaur bone. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5-7
- Density
- 2.6-2.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to Waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Strata
- Typical price
- $10-200 depending on color and cell preservation
Where rockhounds find agatized dinosaur bone
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Utah, USA
- Colorado, USA
- Wyoming, USA
- Madagascar
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary strata country — that is the host setting where agatized dinosaur bone typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, hematite, goethite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find agatized dinosaur bone on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
