Pink chalcedony nodule

Pink chalcedony noduleLocale: Yankee Dog Claim, Hidalgo, New Mexico Approx size: 2" Approx weight: 52g Pink chalcedony nodules, sometimes called "chalcedony desert roses," have been discovered across the southwest. They were prolific from this locale back in the 1990s, but today are much harder to come byat 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,

Locale: Yankee Dog Claim, Hidalgo, New Mexico

Approx size: 2"

Approx weight: 52g

Pink chalcedony nodules, sometimes called "chalcedony desert roses," have been discovered across the southwest. They were prolific from this locale back in the 1990s, but 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.