{"id":28083,"date":"2024-07-01T23:17:58","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T23:17:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/?p=28083"},"modified":"2024-07-01T23:52:43","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T23:52:43","slug":"rock-with-blue-tinted-bubbles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rockseeker.com\/rock-with-blue-tinted-bubbles\/","title":{"rendered":"\u200bWhat Are These Blue Tinted Bubbles Growing On This Stone?\u200b"},"content":{"rendered":"
The specimen in the image is a beautiful example of botryoidal chalcedony, and there’s a very good explanation as to why it has the “bubble” like features on it as well as why it’s tinted blue. Let’s break down the features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The blue hue in this specimen is primarily due to the presence of trace elements or mineral inclusions within the chalcedony. Common trace elements that can give chalcedony a blue color include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The color can also be influenced by the way light interacts with the microcrystalline structure of the chalcedony, causing a scattering effect that enhances certain wavelengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bubble-like appearance is characteristic of botryoidal texture, which comes from the Greek word “botrys,” meaning “grape.” This texture forms when mineral precipitates from a solution in a spherical manner, often growing in a way that each new layer conforms to the shape of the previous one. This can happen in environments like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Botryoidal chalcedony forms through a process called colloform growth, where silica-rich solutions deposit successive layers of silica that build up into rounded, bubble-like formations. The conditions need to be right for this type of growth, often involving slow, steady precipitation from silica-saturated fluids.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The specimen in the image is a beautiful example of botryoidal chalcedony, and there’s a very good explanation as to why it has the “bubble” like features on it as well as why it’s tinted blue. Let’s break down the features: The Blue Hue The blue hue in this specimen is primarily due to the […] More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":28084,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n