gemstone
Agate (Beaded Jewelry)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, varied colors including brown, yellow, and blue, waxy to vitreous luster, cryptocrystalline crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.60 to 2.65
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, varied colors including brown, yellow, and blue, waxy to vitreous luster, cryptocrystalline crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.60 to 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed mainly within cavities of volcanic and metamorphic rocks through the deposition of silica from groundwater solutions over millions of years
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry making, ornamental carvings, beads, and as spiritual or decorative collector items
Geological facts
Agate is a diverse variety of chalcedony and was prized as a gemstone in ancient civilizations like Ancient Egypt and Greece for its protective amulets and seals
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its hardness, durability, waxy luster, and colorful banding or translucent appearance when tumbled and polished into beads
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Black Opal Ring (Carved Opal)
Hydrated Silicon Dioxide (SiO2·nH2O)
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