Agate
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Przykuta" title="User:Przykuta">Przykuta</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameAgate
Chemical FormulaSiO2
Mohs Hardness7
Crystal Systemtrigonal
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagenone
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.65
Colorswhite, grey, blue-grey, orange, reddish-brown
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityNowy Kościół, Poland
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesjewelry, ornamental objects, collector, industrial
Associated Mineralsquartz, calcite, zeolites
Raritycommon
Description
This image displays a polished cross-section of agate, revealing intricate concentric banding in shades of white, grey, blue-grey, and reddish-brown, characteristic of its formation within a host rock.
Geological Context
Agate typically forms in cavities of volcanic rocks, such as basalt or rhyolite, where silica-rich fluids deposit successive layers of microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony) over time.
