mineral

Banded Agate (Geode Fragment)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) - Variety Agate

Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Multi-colored bands (grey, white, translucent brown); Luster: Waxy to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (Cryptocrystalline); Cleavage: None; Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.6

Hardness: 6
Color: Multi-colored bands (grey, white, translucent brown)
Luster: Waxy to vitreous

Identified May 28, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed in volcanic or sedimentary rock cavities when silica-rich fluids deposit layers of microcrystalline quartz over thousands to millions of years. This piece appears to be a fragment of a small geode or nodule.

Uses & applications

Used primarily in lapidary arts, jewelry (cabochons), interior decoration, and as a popular collector's specimen. Historically used for making mortar and pestles due to hardness.

Geological facts

The word 'Agate' comes from the Achetes River in Sicily, where it was first discovered. Every agate is unique, and they are often sliced into slabs to highlight their internal banding patterns.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by looking for a hard, waxy nodule with conchoidal (shell-like) fracturing. Common in riverbeds, volcanic regions, and deserts, particularly in places like Brazil, Mexico, and Lake Superior in the USA.

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