gemstone
Banded Agate
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs, Color: Earthy brown, gray, yellow, and cream bands, Luster: Waxy to vitreous when polished, Crystal System: Trigonal (microcrystalline chalcedony), Specific Gravity: ~2.6
- Hardness
- 6
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs, Color: Earthy brown, gray, yellow, and cream bands, Luster: Waxy to vitreous when polished, Crystal System: Trigonal (microcrystalline chalcedony), Specific Gravity: ~2.6
Formation & geological history
Formed inside volcanic and metamorphic rock cavities where silica-rich fluids deposit microcrystalline quartz over long periods in concentric layers.
Uses & applications
Popular for lapidary arts, jewelry, decorative carvings, tumbling, and crystal collecting.
Geological facts
Agate bands can be so fine that thousands of individual layers fit within a single inch. Agates are named after the Achates River (now Dirillo) in Sicily.
Field identification & locations
Look for translucent to opaque concentric or parallel banding patterns. Commonly found along riverbeds, beaches, and weathered volcanic fields worldwide (e.g., Brazil, USA, Madagascar).
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