gemstone
Agate
Silicon Dioxide (Chalcedony), SiO2
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, waxy luster, and conchoidal fracture. Displays distinct multicolored concentric banding.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, waxy luster, and conchoidal fracture. Displays distinct multicolored concentric banding.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the deposition of silica from groundwater in cavities of igneous and sedimentary rocks over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used widely in making jewelry, ornamental carvings, polished display specimens, and precision instruments.
Geological facts
Agate was named by Theophrastus after the Achates River in Sicily where it was found in antiquity. Ancient civilizations prized it for talismans and seals.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its waxy luster and translucent concentric rings inside broken or weathered nodules. Found worldwide, particularly in volcanic rock cavities.
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