mineral

Banded Agate (Tumbled)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Microcrystalline Quartz

Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Brown, white, and translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal) cryptocrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.58-2.64

Hardness: 6
Color: Brown, white, and translucent
Luster: Vitreous to waxy

Identified March 24, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in cavities of igneous rocks (volcanic basalt) or metamorphic rocks where silica-rich groundwater deposits layers of chalcedony over thousands of years. The distinctive banding represents different pulses of mineral deposition.

Uses & applications

Primarily used for ornamental purposes, jewelry (pendants and beads), lapidary art, and as talismans in metaphysical collections. Industrially used for precision pendulums and laboratory mortars due to its hardness.

Geological facts

Agate is named after the Achates River in Sicily where it was first discovered. Every agate is unique; no two specimens have the exact same banding pattern. It has been used in jewelry since the Neolithic era.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its waxy luster and characteristic concentric or parallel banding (often visible when backlit). Found globally in places like Brazil, India, and the Lake Superior region of the US. In the field, look for translucent, rounded nodules with weathered, pitted exteriors.

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