Mineral/Gemstone
Agate
SiO2
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Highly variable, often banded with various colors. Luster: Waxy to dull. Crystal structure: Cryptocrystalline. Cleavage: None. Specific gravity: 2.58-2.64.
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Highly variable, often banded with various colors
- Luster
- Waxy to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Highly variable, often banded with various colors. Luster: Waxy to dull. Crystal structure: Cryptocrystalline. Cleavage: None. Specific gravity: 2.58-2.64.
Formation & geological history
Formed primarily in volcanic and metamorphic rocks through the deposition of silica from groundwater in cavities or veins.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in jewelry, decorative items, and lapidary arts.
Geological facts
Agate is a variety of chalcedony and is characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. It is named after the Achates River in Sicily where it was first found.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive banding, hardness, and waxy luster. Common locations include Brazil, Uruguay, and various parts of the USA.
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Agate
SiO2
Mineral/Gemstone
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SiO2 with impurities (Chalcedony)
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Pearl (as a biogenic mineral/gemstone)
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