mineral

Banded Agate

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Microcrystalline Quartz

Hardness: 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Translucent white, grey, beige, reddish-brown. Luster: Waxy to vitreous. Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline/cryptocrystalline). Cleavage: None, exhibits conchoidal fracture.

Hardness: 6
Color: Translucent white, grey, beige, reddish-brown
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified July 23, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed as a secondary mineral deposit in cavities within volcanic (igneous) rocks like basalt or rhyolite, created by silica-rich groundwater filling gas vesicles over millions of years.

Uses & applications

Used widely in lapidary arts, jewelry making, cabochon cutting, tumbled stones, ornamental carvings, and geological collections.

Geological facts

The distinctive fine parallel banding in agates represents successive layers of silica deposition. Some layers can be micro-porous, allowing agates to naturally absorb trace oxides or be artificially dyed.

Field identification & locations

Identified in the field by its characteristic concentric or parallel fine banding, translucent body, shell-like (conchoidal) fracture, and resistance to scratching by steel. Commonly found in Brazil, Uruguay, Lake Superior region (USA), Madagascar, and Scotland.

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