gemstone
Blue Lace Agate (Beads)
Silicon dioxide (SiO2) - Variety of Chalcedony
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Pale blue with white banding; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.60-2.65
- Hardness
- 6
- Color
- Pale blue with white banding
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 Mohs; Color: Pale blue with white banding; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.60-2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in cavities of volcanic rocks (basalt or andesite) where silica-rich groundwater deposits layers of rhythmic banding over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Primarily used in jewelry (beads, cabochons, carvings), decor, and as a popular specimen for crystal collectors.
Geological facts
Blue Lace Agate was first discovered in Namibia in the 1960s. It is renowned for its calming aesthetic and unique, narrow, wavy bands of white and blue.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic thin blue and white banding. Found mostly in Namibia, South Africa, and parts of the USA. It is more translucent than opaque 'Blue Chalcedony'.
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