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Rock Tumblers » Gemstones » Agate
Agate Gemstones
What is Agate?
Agate is a translucent variety of microcrystalline quartz. It is used as a semi-precious stone when it is of desirable quality and color. Agate generally forms by the deposition of silica from ground water in the cavities of igneous rocks. The agate deposits in concentric layers around the walls of the cavity or in horizontal layers building up from the bottom of the cavity. These structures produce the banded patterns that are characteristic of many agates.
Agate occurs in a wide range of colors which include: brown, white, red, gray, pink, black and yellow. The colors are caused by impurities and occur as alternating bands within the agate. The different colors were produced as ground waters of different compositions seeped into the cavity. The banding within a cavity is a record of water chemistry change. This banding gives many agates the interesting colors and patterns that make it a popular gemstone.
| A polished agate slab cut from a nodule with an interesting history. The nodule was first infilled first by horizontal layering of silica, then concentric infilling and finally by horizontal filling. Image © Geology.com. |
Agate Gemstones:
Agates have been used as gemstones for thousands of years. They were some of the earliest stones fashioned by people. Today they are cut into cabochons, beads, small sculptures and functional objects such as paperweights and bookends. Agate cabochons are popular and used in rings, earrings, pendants and other jewelry objects. Agate beads are commonly made into necklaces and earrings. Some have been used as marbles.
| A matched pair of bookends cut from a large agate nodule. The blue color was produced with dye. Image © Geology.com. |
Tumbled Agate:
Agate is the most popular tumbling rough. It is generally inexpensive and can be tumbled with good results by beginners. It has a hardness of seven and can be tumbled with jasper and any of the quartz varieties.
| A polished slab of landscape agate that yields a "Monument Valley" scene. Interesting landscape agates are prized by collectors. Image. © Geology.com. |
More About Agate:
Most agate has unimpressive colors and patterns. However, agate is a porous material that readily accepts dye. Most of the spectacularly colored agates sold in the gemstone trade have been dyed. Rarely the color patterns of an agate forms interesting landscape scenes. These are sought after by collectors.
| Barrel-shaped beads cut from Orange Crack agate. Image © Geology.com. |
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| A bright collection of agate cabochons cut from rough found in Montana. They show a diversity of banding patterns and inclusions. Image © Geology.com. |
| A cabochon cut from Mexico's Crazy Lace agate. Crazy Lace has an infinite variety of bands, orbicular structures and lacey patterns. Image © Geology.com. |
| A round cabochon cut from Coyamito agate. Image © Geology.com. |
| A colorful cabochon cut from Aqua Nueva agate. Image © Geology.com. |
| Petrified wood agate. Image © Geology.com. |
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