• A pink chalcedony nodule with two oyster-shell shaped formations side-by-side. They have excellent ropy rippling form along the thick rims, with bumpy botryoidal forms inside the hollow interiors. The pink color is very light.
  • The specimen fluorescing strong yellow-green under UV light in low lighting. The piece reacts well.
  • View into the thinner of the two open chalcedony formations, a deep and dark interior with lumpy forms inside. The edges of the two formations have very good swirling form, with a light chip of matrix wedged in the middle..
  • Detail of the specimen focusing on the larger chalcedony formation, with a deep hollow reaching into the dark and bumpy lighter-colored botryoidal forms lining the interior.
  • Detail of the larger open nodule, with excellent form. Thick rims with ropy texture also have swirls and botryoidal forms. The smaller nodule is half-covered with matrix, but shows continuation of the ropy pattern from the large piece as if pouring into the smaller one.
  • Another side-view of the piece, tilted with the openings pointed to the left. This reveals the third nodule is not mostly covered with matrix, but has a large patch of concentric, lumpy, twisting banding.
  • Details side-view of the formations, showing undulating bumpy ropy pattern.
  • Detail of the third, smallest nodule in the formation, an egg-shaped piece with no opening or hollow interior. Instead, the surface is partially covered with matrix, and partially twisted ropy patterns.
  • Side-view of the specimen, the chalcedony nodules backed with rounded cups of a brown rock matrix. The thick ropy chalcedony rims curl over the matrix edges like a fluid pouring over the edge.
  • The backside of the piece, several egg-shaped forms of red-brown rock matrix, crackled with the light chalcedony visible through the cracks.
  • The piece on a measuring mat, measuring about two inches long and an inch wide
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Pink chalcedony nodule

Pink chalcedony nodule

$42.00 USD
$42.00 USD
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Locale: Yankee Dog Claim, Hidalgo, New Mexico

Approx size: 2"

Approx weight: 52g

 

Pink chalcedony nodules have been discovered across the southwest, and were prolific from this locale back in the 1990s. Today are much harder to come by—at least with any size or quality. 

The material is known for its strong UV reaction and undulating ropy, botryoidal forms. Pink chalcedony often grows shapes like a nest, cup, or knobby "ear" with raised rims of concentric banding. 'Agate' refers to chalcedony with banded color, whereas this chalcedony has banded structure. It has a dynamic, fluid appearance similar to its relative hyalite, as if someone piped icing on a cake when it was still warm so it's starting to melt down the sides.

This specimen has three very light pink interconnected chalcedony formations, with two larger "oyster shells" with hollow interiors and the third a closed ropy nodule. The two open pieces have botryoidal forms lining the interior, with thick ropy rims. Faint agate banding of opaque whiter layers runs through the chalcedony, most apparent on the smallest nodule. From the back, it appears as three oval dark nodules with crackled rock matrix surfaces revealing the light-colored chalcedony inside.

Note: I was able to remove the chip of matrix between the two larger formations (apparent in images 1 and 3) so it is less distracting from the aesthetics of the piece!

UV reactivity this material has an excellent UV reaction, most pieces glowing a strong green under 365nm UV light. This piece has very good reaction, with some of the milkier banding more muted. (The light blue flecking is dust 🫣). No phosphorescence detected.

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