Pink Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline variety of quartz prized for its soft, even coloration. It typically forms in massive or botryoidal habits within hydrothermal deposits and is frequently used in cabochon cutting due to its attractive translucency.
Is this pink chalcedony?
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 pink chalcedony with a known reference. Pink Chalcedony 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. Pink Chalcedony leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Pink Chalcedony typically shows a waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, rose, light pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Pink Chalcedony vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Pink Chalcedony and vitreous on Rose Quartz.
How to tell apart: Pink Chalcedony is noticeably harder (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 3.5-4); luster reads waxy on Pink Chalcedony and vitreous on Rhodochrosite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads waxy on Pink Chalcedony and vitreous on Thulite.
Often found alongside pink chalcedony
Minerals reported to co-occur with pink chalcedony. 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
- 2.58-2.64 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find pink chalcedony
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Turkey
- Indonesia
- Peru
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where pink chalcedony typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, aragonite 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 Arizona — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find pink chalcedony on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
