mineral

Banded Agate

Cryptocrystalline Quartz (SiO2)

Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Brown, tan, and creamy white bands; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.64

Hardness: 6
Color: Brown, tan, and creamy white bands
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified June 29, 2026More mineral →

Explore Banded Agate in the encyclopedia →

Identify your own rocks.

Get a report just like this from any photo, free.

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Brown, tan, and creamy white bands; Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.58-2.64

Formation & geological history

Formed in cavities of volcanic rocks (basalt or rhyolite) from silica-rich groundwater over millions of years, typically during the Cenozoic or Mesozoic eras.

Uses & applications

Commonly used in jewelry, lapidary arts, ornamental carvings, and as a collector's specimen.

Geological facts

Agate is named after the Achates River in Sicily. It is unique among minerals because of its concentric banding, which forms like tree rings inside rock voids.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its translucent bands and waxy texture when wet. Found commonly in river beds, beaches, and volcanic regions globally (notably Brazil, India, and the USA).