Some seasoned dealers known for fine minerals are now offering a choice selection of agates. For the last three-quarters of a century, with the discovery of new agate fields, fine and amazingly colorful agates have had an impact on the agate market. Now they are breaching the fine mineral market.

How can you tell if an agate is real?

Real agate is translucent, which means, that light can pass through the stone, while Fake agate is mostly opaque. The presence of round bubbles is a sign of Fake Agate. Dull appearance is a signal of Fake Agate made of plastic. Scratches on the surface- also typical for Fake Agate.

What to look for when looking for agates?

Look for translucence in the stone. If the stone has been broken and you can see telltale traces of a quartz-like mineral along with the red, brown and orange color that comes with many types of agate, there is a good chance that you have an unpolished agate. Examine the stone for banding.

Are large agates worth money?

In general, agate values are quite modest. Their prices reflect mainly labor and artistry rather than the value of the material itself. Agates of large size or with particularly distinctive, fine, or landscape-like color patterns are at a premium.

Can I sell my agates?

Agate rocks are abundant and sell in the marketplace as home accents and as prized specimens to collectors. With raw agates readily available, it is possible to develop a business and sell these rocks to both wholesale and retail customers worldwide.

Why are agates so special?

The stone itself is distinguished by impressive shades of natural colors and contrast in the band patterns it contains. The characteristic band patterns—which begin at the center of the rock and move outwards like the rings on a tree—are visually dynamic.

Where is the best place to find agates?

Agates can be found on the beaches of oceans and lakes, along road cuts, and in areas with exposed gravel. In the U.S., agates are most commonly found along the shores of the Great Lakes, the beaches of the Pacific Coast, and in the deserts of many western states.

Are agates rocks?

Agate (/ˈæɡ. ət/) is a common rock formation, consisting of chalcedony and quartz as its primary components, with a wide variety of colors. Its IMA symbol is Aga. Agates are primarily formed within volcanic and metamorphic rocks.

How do you identify agates Lake Superior?

Identification. General description: Lake Superior agates are generally shaped as irregular spheres. They are made up of quartz, often reddened by iron and deposited in layers to create concentric circles that look like the rings on the cross section of a tree.

How do you display agates?

The easiest way to use agates and geodes in home décor is to rock accessories: coasters, candle holders and window hangers instead of dream catchers. You can make beautiful agate slice coasters yourself – just take ready ones and gild the edge to make them chic.

How do I identify a Montana agate?

The background (matrix) of Montana agate ranges from nearly clear, through milky grey-blue to white. If the agate is composed of very fine layers, a small percentage of Montana agates may show rainbow iridescence (also known as iris agate).

Why are Lake Superior agates so expensive?

“The Lake Superior agate can be found in many regions as it was distributed by glacial movement across Minnesota 10,000 to 15,000 years ago” (Reed, J., 2020). That being said, it is still extremely hard to find these gemstones and that is one reason I find the Lake Superior Agate to be so valuable.

Are all agates banded?

Agate is generally a banded material, and observing bands in a specimen of chalcedony is a very good clue that you have an agate. However, some agates do not have obvious bands. These are often translucent agates with plume-shaped, dendritic or mossy inclusions.

Is agate a precious stone?

An opaque, semi-precious stone, an agate would be familiar to almost any American, even if the mineral’s name isn’t. Agates vary in color from bright blue to glowing amber and deep black. They yield beautiful striped patterns when cut and polished.

Is blue agate rare?

Upper Green Canyon and Reecer Creek may not look like the hidden gems that they are, but over 162 acres produce a sparse stone that, according to Forbes, is the third-rarest gem after alexandrite and alunite.

Is Amethyst an agate?

Agate is a member of the Chalcedony group of stones, which is a member of the large Quartz family. All types of Quartz are composed from silica (otherwise known as silicon dioxide), but differ due to their crystal structures: one form of Quartz is Amethyst, which is included in this particular form of Agate.