mineral

Agate (Carnelian-Blue Agate mix)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs scale); Color: Translucent gray-blue with orange-red patches; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline/cryptocrystalline quartz); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.64

Hardness: 6
Color: Translucent gray-blue with orange-red patches
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified April 13, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in volcanic cavities or sedimentary pockets where silica-rich groundwater deposits layers over thousands of years. This tumbled specimen likely shows a mix of blue chalcedony and carnelian-style iron inclusions.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in jewelry, decorative ornaments, lapidary arts, and as a pocket stone for collectors due to its aesthetic appeal and durability.

Geological facts

Agate was named by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus, who discovered the stone along the shore line of the Achates River in Sicily. It is a variety of chalcedony.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its translucency, waxy surface when broken, and banding patterns (though bands may be faint in tumbled pieces). Found worldwide in volcanic rock regions like Brazil, India, and the United States (Lake Superior/Oregon).

Other mineral specimens

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Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Schist

Metamorphic

Epidote

Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

metamorphic

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