Agate
| Agate | |
|---|---|
 Moss agate pebble, 2.5 cm (1 inch) long | |
| General | |
| Category | Quartz variety |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Silica, SiO2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | White to grey, light blue, orange to red, black. |
| Crystal habit | Cryptocrystalline silica |
| Crystal system | Rhombohedral Microcrystalline |
| Cleavage | None |
| Fracture | Conchoidal with very sharp edges. |
| Mohs scale hardness | 7 |
| Luster | Waxy |
| Streak | White |
| Specific gravity | 2.58-2.64 |
| Refractive index | 1.530-1.540 |
| Birefringence | up to +0.004 (B-G) |
| Pleochroism | Absent |
Agate is a kind of quartz and it is a mineral. Agate can come in many different kinds and colors. Agate deposits are primarily found in large rocks such as boulders. They take ~50 million years to form. It is characterized by colored band patterns inside various rocks. Often, agates are also accompanied by Amethyst deposits inside.[1]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Streeter, Edwin W. (2014-07-07). Semi-Precious Stones - A Historical Article on Agate, Amber, Amethyst and Many Other Varieties of Gemstones. Read Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4733-9436-0.