mineral
Banded Agate with Drusy Quartz
Cryptocrystalline Quartz (SiO2) with macrocrystalline Quartz
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs); Color: White, black, and gray banding; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Cryptocrystalline with central micro-crystals; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- White, black, and gray banding
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 (Mohs); Color: White, black, and gray banding; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Cryptocrystalline with central micro-crystals; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed by the deposition of silica from groundwater into cavities (vesicles) in volcanic rock or sedimentary layers over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in jewelry (cabochons), ornamental carvings, and as a popular specimen for mineral collectors.
Geological facts
Agate is named after the Achates River in Sicily. This particular piece shows a 'druse' or 'geode' effect where the center remained hollow and allowed crystals to grow inward.
Field identification & locations
Identified by distinct concentric or planar banding and a waxy luster. Common in areas with historical volcanic activity, such as the Lake Superior region or Brazil.
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