Novaculite
A variety of 'Chert'
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About Novaculite
Colour:
White, gray, black
Lustre:
Waxy, Dull
Hardness:
7
Novaculite is a uniform, fine-grained hard rock mostly composed of extremely fine-grained to cryptocrystalline quartz. It may be white, gray, or black due to impurities. (It is not a slate.)
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
9859 (as Novaculite)
994 (as Chert)
994 (as Chert)
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:9859:1 (as Novaculite)
mindat:1:1:994:6 (as Chert)
mindat:1:1:994:6 (as Chert)
Similar Names
| Novaculit | A synonym of 'Diatomaceous Earth' |
Physical Properties of Novaculite
Waxy, Dull
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
White, gray, black
Comment:
Color varies from white when pur to dark when additional minerals are present.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
7 on Mohs scale
Comment:
The rock is "tough" due to fine-grained interlocking texture.
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Geological Environment
Geological Setting:
Occurs in extensive layered deposits
Varieties of Novaculite
| Arkansas stone | A variety of novaculite found in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas. Also, a whetstone made of Arkansas stone. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Novaculite associated with 'Smoky Quartz' | SiO2 |
| 3 photos of Novaculite associated with Brookite | TiO2 |
| 3 photos of Novaculite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Novaculite associated with Goethite | Fe3+O(OH) |
| 2 photos of Novaculite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 1 photo of Novaculite associated with 'Manganese Dendrites' |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:
Used as an abrasive rock for grinding and sharpening purposes.
Internet Links for Novaculite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-9859.html
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References for Novaculite
Reference List:
David E. Park, Jr. (2), Carey Crone, (1969) Origin of Caballos and Arkansas Novaculite Formations. AAPG Bulletin, 53. doi:10.1306/5d25c597-16c1-11d7-8645000102c1865d
Localities for Novaculite
Showing 35 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Hot Spring County, Arkansas, USA