mineral
Agate
Chalcedony (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Varies widely including grey, white, blue, brown, red; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz)
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Varies widely including grey, white, blue, brown, red
- Luster
- Waxy to vitreous
Identified More mineral →
Explore Agate in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Varies widely including grey, white, blue, brown, red; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz)
Formation & geological history
Formed by the deposition of silica from groundwater in the cavities of igneous and sedimentary rocks, often occurring in concentric bands over millions of years
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry, ornamental carvings, polished display specimens, and industrial bearings
Geological facts
Agate was named by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and naturalist, who discovered the stone along the shoreline of the Achates River in Sicily
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive concentric banding and waxy luster; commonly found worldwide in volcanic rock cavities or ancient lava flows
