Chrome Chalcedony (Australia) Meaning, Metaphysical Energy & Geology

An Australian specimen sold as chrome chalcedony was examined for its silica-rich makeup and the minerals associated with its color.

Finding: Sample 92918, reported September 2022, contains silica identified with quartz, cristobalite and tridymite in the analysis; the report also describes allophane and chromite. The researcher discussed alteration of possible volcanic material as an interpretation of its formation.

Australia is the supplied locality; this individual analysis does not establish a mine or prove that all chrome chalcedony has the same composition.

View the original report

Select a page to enlarge it. 5 pages; findings are summarized in accessible text above.

Report images © Soul Body Gems, Alexander Falster and the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. Please acknowledge all three when referring to these results. Findings apply to the specimen examined.

Understanding the report figures

Use this guide alongside the written findings and the original report transcript. It explains the purpose of each analytical figure and preserves the laboratory’s own figure labels. The interpretations apply to the tested specimen; signals alone do not establish the identity of every similar-looking stone.

Electron microscope image: This view shows small-scale regions selected for analysis. Its brightness contrast helps distinguish regions with different compositions; it is not a photograph of their natural colors. Numbered spots connect this view to the analyses listed in the report.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 2: Backscattered electron image of an area of the specimen shown in Fig.1.
Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 3: Energy dispersive spectral analysis of spot 1 in Fig. 2 (quartz or other silica species)
Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectral analysis of spot 2 in Fig. 2 (mixture of silica species plus allophane)
Electron microscope image: This view shows small-scale regions selected for analysis. Its brightness contrast helps distinguish regions with different compositions; it is not a photograph of their natural colors. Numbered spots connect this view to the analyses listed in the report.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 5: Backscattered electron image of another area of the specimen shown in Fig. 1.
Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 6: Energy dispersive spectral analysis of spot 1 in Fig. 5 (chromite).
Elemental spectrum: The peaks record characteristic X-ray signals from elements in the analyzed spot or area. This is an analysis of that location, not automatically of the entire specimen. Any mineral identification or uncertainty named in the laboratory caption is retained below.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 7: Energy dispersive spectral analysis of spot 2 in Fig. 5 (allophane).
Element map: This map shows where the named elements occur within the analyzed area. Its colors represent the laboratory’s selected element channels, rather than the specimen’s visible colors. The caption below preserves any color key or distribution noted by the laboratory.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 8: X-Ray map of the area shown in Fig. 2. Silicon: red, iron: green, aluminum: yellow. Note the bright gren speck in the right iamge where the chromite is.
Diffraction scan: This scan helps identify crystalline minerals by comparing the measured pattern with reference patterns. The laboratory interpretation explains which minerals the comparison supports.
Laboratory figure caption: Fig. 9: X-ray diffractogram of the material.

Read the original laboratory report as text

The following text and tables are transcribed from the original laboratory document. Figure captions identify the report images; the laboratory interpretations and limitations are preserved.

Laboratory report 1

Analytical Result Report

Sample id: 92918 (#7)

Submitted by: K. Bitner

Date submitted: July 14, 2022.

Date completed: September 7, 2022.

Operating conditions: An AMRAY 1830 SEM operated at 25 kV acceleration potential, 26 mm working distance, 15 degrees sample tilt, coated with 250 Å carbon. Using the X-ray fluorescence attachment with 35 kV potential in conjunction with the EDS system.

Fig. 1: Photograph of the specimen. Approximately 7 cm maximum.

Fig. 2: Backscattered electron image of an area of the specimen shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 3: Energy dispersive spectral analysis of spot 1 in Fig. 2 (quartz or other silica species)

Fig. 4: Energy dispersive spectral analysis of spot 2 in Fig. 2 (mixture of silica species plus allophane)

Fig. 5: Backscattered electron image of another area of the specimen shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6: Energy dispersive spectral analysis of spot 1 in Fig. 5 (chromite).

Fig. 7: Energy dispersive spectral analysis of spot 2 in Fig. 5 (allophane).

Fig. 8: X-Ray map of the area shown in Fig. 2. Silicon: red, iron: green, aluminum: yellow. Note the bright gren speck in the right iamge where the chromite is.

Fig. 9: X-ray diffractogram of the material.

Table 1: Minor and trace element composition of the specimen. (in wt. %).

Laboratory data as recorded in the report
Element	Reported value
Aluminum	2.7
Calcium	0.3
Chromium	0.3
Copper	0.1
Iron	0.9
Magnesium	0.2
Manganese	0.02
Nickel	0.1
Phosphorus	0.03
Potassium	0.1
Sulfur	0.2

Summary of findings: This specimen is interesting (Fig. 1). The material is composed dominantly of silica species (Figs. 2 and 3) plus a high aluminum silicate species (Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 7). Trace elements indicate a likely influence of a mafic source (Table 1: nickel, chromium, and magnesium content (Figs. 5 and 6). The X-ray diffraction scan indicates the likely presence of quartz plus cristobalite and tridymite. Allophane is typically amorphous and thus will not show up in the X-ray diffractogram. It appears the material formed as a result of weathering volcanic ash, it could have been a bimodal sequence of ash or flows. The silica in 3 is indicative of a formation from volcanic rocks either during eruption or later during weathering. Initially, opal may have formed which then began to crystallize, cristobalite is a common species to appear. Chalcedony is then formed and thus the low quartz begins to show up.

Date: September 5, 2022 Signature