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The Gemstone "Wonder Stone"
Wonder Stone a type of Rhyolite:
Rhyolite is a light-colored rock with silica
(SiO2) content greater than about 68%.
Sodium and potassium oxides both can reach
about 5%. Common mineral types include
quartz, feldspar and biotite and are often
found in a glassy matrix. Rhyolite is erupted
at temperatures of 700 to 850° C.
The word rhyolite comes from the Greek word
for stream (rhyax) + the suffix lite. Rhyolite was
named streaming rock because of its beautiful
flow bands, which are made of bubble- and crystal
rich layers that form as the lava flows onto the surface and advances.
Rhyolite can look very different, depending on how it erupts. Explosive
eruptions of rhyolite create pumice, which is white and full of bubbles.
Effusive eruptions of rhyolite often produce obsidian, which is bubble-free
and black.
The colour of rhyolite ranges widely, but generally is white or light
yellow, brown, or red. Most rhyolites are flow banded; that is, they show
streaky irregular layers that are formed by the flowing of the sticky,
almost congealed magma.
Wonder Stone or Wonder Rock is a common name for a tight graned type of
Rhyolite, that is sutible for gemstone use. This rhyolite is banded and
has very pleasing colors of plumb, yellow and tans.Wonder rock is found
in many locations thorough the west. (for example, Yellowstone in Wyoming,
Long Valley in California, Alder, Montana and Valles in New Mexico)
The better veriies of Wonder Rock come from the Montana and Wyoming sites.
Alder Montana is located in Madison County 9 miles W of Virginia City
along Highway 287 near Beaverhead National Forest and Ruby River Reservoir.
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