The Very Highest Quality Agate Information. . . |
Agate |
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Varieties and Colours
Agate can be many different colours, and because its banding is so variable, different types of it have been given many different descriptive names. It is often used to make quite large decorative items. Some names include moss agate and picture agate. Many types of organic material have been fossilised by agate, where the organic material has been replaced slowly over a long period of time, so that the original structure of the original item is retained. Fossilised or petrified wood is an attractive form of agate.
Geodes and Thunder Eggs
Agate is frequently found in the form of rounded nodules or geodes. When split or sliced, these show their banding to good, sometimes startling effect. In some geodes there is a central cavity, in other the centre is hollow. This provides an important clue to the formation of such geodes.
The Indians (sorry, Native Americans) of the western American states called agate nodules "thunder eggs", a wonderfully romantic and descriptive name.
Technical Details
Chemical Composition and Name | SiO2 - Silicon Dioxide |
Hardness | 7 |
Specific Gravity | 2.65 - 2.66 |
Refractive Index (R.I.) | 1.543 - 1.552 to 1.545 - 1.554 |
Bi-refringence | 0.009 |
Optic Sign | Positive |
Optical Character | Uniaxial |
Gemstone | Weight | Shape | Size & Description | Available | Price £ | Price $ |
Agate | 2.44 | Oval | 10x8 | Yes | £19.00 | $Ask |
Moss Agate | 5.09 | Oval | 14x10 | Yes | £14.00 | $Ask |
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