An enhydro is a quartz nodule or crystal containing a trapped pocket of ancient water, often with an air bubble that moves when the specimen is tilted. It is found within agate geodes or sedimentary deposits where silica-rich fluid was sealed in during crystal growth. Collectors prize it as a portable, prehistoric reservoir.
Is this enhydro?
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 enhydro with a known reference. Enhydro sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, brown, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: nodular.
Often confused with
Enhydro vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside enhydro
Minerals reported to co-occur with enhydro. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 2.65 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Nodular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find enhydro
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Uruguay
- Brazil
- China
- United States
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, chalcedony in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: nodular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Florida. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify enhydro?+
Where is enhydro found?+
Can I find enhydro in the United States?+
What rocks look like enhydro?+
What minerals are found with enhydro?+
What kind of rock does enhydro form in?+
What is enhydro used for?+
Find enhydro on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
