Wonderstone is a banded rhyolitic volcanic rock known for its intricate, flowing patterns of layered colors created by mineral-rich fluids. It is popular among lapidary artists for its ability to take a high polish and display unique, often landscape-like designs. Collectors typically find it as weathered nodules or boulders in arid western U.S. volcanic regions.
Is this wonderstone rhyolite?
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 wonderstone rhyolite with a known reference. Wonderstone Rhyolite sits at Mohs 5.5-6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Wonderstone Rhyolite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Wonderstone Rhyolite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, tan, yellow, orange, red, white, purple.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: amorphous. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Wonderstone Rhyolite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside wonderstone rhyolite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wonderstone rhyolite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6.5
- Density
- 2.3-2.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Amorphous
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Decorative, Collector
- Host rock
- Volcanic Rhyolite Flows
- Typical price
- $5-50 for slabs or polished specimens
Where rockhounds find wonderstone rhyolite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Utah, USA
- Nevada, USA
- California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic rhyolite flows country, the host setting where wonderstone rhyolite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, feldspar, biotite 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 California. Start trip planning there.
More wonderstone rhyolite photos
Common questions
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Find wonderstone rhyolite on the map
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