Agate
Agate: A Guide to One of Nature's Most Beautiful Varieties of Chalcedony
Agate is a variety of chalcedony, a microcrystalline form of quartz prized for its extraordinary colors, intricate banding, translucent edges, and seemingly endless variety of patterns. No two pieces are exactly alike, which is part of what makes agate such a fascinating material for collectors, lapidary artists, and jewelry makers.
Most agates form when silica-rich groundwater moves through cavities and openings in volcanic rock. Over long periods of time, layers of microscopic quartz and chalcedony are deposited along the walls of these cavities. Changes in the chemistry of the fluids, along with mineral impurities and trace elements, create the bands, colors, and inclusions that make each agate distinctive.
Agate occurs throughout the world, and different locations produce stones with their own characteristic colors and patterns. Lake Superior Agate, for example, is famous for its red, orange, yellow, and white banding created largely by iron oxides, while Botswana Agate, Brazilian Agate, Crazy Lace Agate, Laguna Lace Agate, Moss Agate, and other varieties have their own distinctive appearances.
At Stone Treasures by the Lake, we love agate for both its geological story and its natural beauty. Explore the different varieties of agate in our collection, learn how to identify them, and discover how these remarkable stones become one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry.
