mineral

Banded Agate

Agate (Cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz, SiO2)

Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, grey, light blue; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.64

Hardness: 6
Color: White, grey, light blue
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified April 25, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, grey, light blue; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.64

Formation & geological history

Formed primarily in volcanic and metamorphic rocks. It develops as silica-rich groundwater fills cavities (vesicles) in lava or rock, precipitating in layers over thousands of years.

Uses & applications

Used widely in lapidary arts, jewelry, decorative ornaments, and industrial uses like mortar and pestles due to its hardness and resistance to acids.

Geological facts

Agate was named by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus who discovered the stone along the shore line of the Achates River in Sicily. The banding is caused by periodic changes in the concentration of silica during deposition.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its waxy luster, translucency, and characteristic curved banding patterns. Often found as rounded nodules on beaches or in dry riverbeds.

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sedimentary

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Nephrite Jade

Nephrite

Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]

mineral