Howlite in Tick Canyon, CA

Howlite is a soft, easily workable, even dye-able, white stone. On either side of Davenport road, about ____ miles from Agua Dulce Road, black hill is spotted with white exposed chunks of collecting material. Specimens are abundant, and gathering is as simple as stepping outside your vehicle. Sizes range from coin size fragments to softballs sized chunks. The outside appearance is similar to cauliflower. One of the first surprising lessons I learned as a rock hunter was not to judge the outside appearance of a rock. After being exposed to the elements for countless years, the outside has weathered and oxidized, and in the case of howlite, turned black!

 Breaking open a black nugget of howlite will reveal and snow white interior, often laced with black veins. It is lovely!