Enhydros are quartz nodules or crystals that contain trapped pockets of ancient water, often accompanied by an air bubble that moves when the specimen is tilted. They are typically found within agate geodes or sedimentary deposits where silica-rich fluids were trapped during crystal growth. Collectors prize them for their unique status as portable, prehistoric reservoirs.
Is this enhydros?
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 enhydros with a known reference. Enhydros 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. Enhydros leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Enhydros typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 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
Enhydros vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside enhydros
Minerals reported to co-occur with enhydros. 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
- Typical price
- $20-200 depending on size and fluid visibility
Where rockhounds find enhydros
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Uruguay
- Brazil
- China
- United States
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where enhydros typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, chalcedony in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a nodular habit, so 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
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Find enhydros on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
