mineral
Banded Agate (Carnelian-Agate)
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Red-orange to white/purple banding; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (cryptocrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.64
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Red-orange to white/purple banding
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Red-orange to white/purple banding; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (cryptocrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.64
Formation & geological history
Formed in volcanic cavities and sedimentary rock through the deposition of silica from groundwater. The bands are created by alternating layers of chalcedony and quartz.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry, ornamental carvings, lapidary arts, and as a focus for metaphysical crystal collecting.
Geological facts
Agate was named by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher, who discovered the stone along the shore line of the Achates River in Sicily.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its translucent nature and distinct concentric or parallel banding. Commonly found in Brazil, India, and the United States (Lake Superior region).
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