Agate Category

The small minerals that make up agate, in addition to chalcedony, sometimes also see a small amount of opal or cryptocrystalline particulate quartz. Strictly speaking, there is no texture pattern features, can not be called agate, can only be called chalcedony. Some of the chalcedony-free chalcedony on the market today is also known as agate, which is inconsistent with the ancient agate.

Agate pure white, due to the presence of other metal elements (such as Fe, Ni, etc.) appear gray, brown, red, blue, green, green, pink, black and other colors, sometimes several colors appear mixed or phase. The agate block is transparent, translucent and opaque, with a shiny glass to waxy luster. Hardness 6.5 ~ 7, specific gravity 2.65. There are many varieties of agate depending on the thickness and shape of its pattern. Bands are "缟" like the "onyx", which has the most precious red bands, known as "red onyx". In addition, there are "banded agate", "city agate", "onyx", "moss agate", "Jinhong agate", "sweet agate", "spotted agate", "Paddus agate", "qu" "Agate", "water agate" and other varieties.