Mineral

Dyed Agate

SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide) - Chalcedony variety

Hardness 6.5-7, bright blue color (artificially dyed), waxy luster, microcrystalline quartz structure, conchoidal fracture

Identified June 18, 2026More mineral →

Identify your own rocks.

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

App Store Google Play

Physical properties

Hardness 6.5-7, bright blue color (artificially dyed), waxy luster, microcrystalline quartz structure, conchoidal fracture

Formation & geological history

Forms in volcanic rocks or ancient lavas as cavity fillings. The bright blue color is a result of artificial dyeing processes, often using aniline dyes on natural gray/white agate.

Uses & applications

Used in ornamental jewelry, decorative items, and craft projects.

Geological facts

Naturally occurring blue agate exists (like Blue Lace Agate), but the vivid, uniform blue with striking white banding seen here is almost always the result of a dyeing process that has been used since Roman times.

Field identification & locations

Identifiable by its banding patterns characteristic of agate, combined with an unnaturally vibrant color. Found worldwide before dying, with heavy processing often done in Brazil or China.

Other mineral specimens

See all

Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)

Arenite (SiO2 based)

sedimentary

Schist

Metamorphic

Epidote

Epidote | Ca2(Al2,Fe3+)(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)

metamorphic

Nephrite Jade

Nephrite

Mineral/Rock

Banded Gneiss (River Rock/Pebble)

Gneiss (specifically a banded variety often found as a river rock)

Metamorphic Rock

Green Apatite on Albite

Fluorapatite [Ca5(PO4)3F] on Albite [Na(AlSi3O8)]

mineral