12 Types of Agate You Should Know About

This post is all about the 12 Types of Agate You Should Know About. Agate is a popular gemstone that sees vast use in jewelry and decoration works. Made of silica and Chalcedony, this stone I named after a Sicilian river Achates where the gemstone was first found. These stones are commonly found in volcanic rocks and have lines that divide them into sections.

12 Types of Agate You Should Know About

Based on the pattern of these lines, agate comes in different varieties. Listed below are 12 agate types you will find on stores like Pratt Daddy. 

1. Onyx Agate

Onyx agates have parallel lines in multiple colors, the most common of which are white and grey. With skin-colored and white lines, the stone sometimes resembles a nail. It contains fine intergrowths of quartz and moganite.

2. Sardonyx Agate

Sardonyx agates are onyxes that have bands in shades of red, also known as Sarda; hence, the name. While black onyxes are popular, Sardonyxes are just as easily available. The red color in this stone has been artificially made since historical times.  

3. Iris Agate

Iris agates have delicate and marvelous bands that reflect light when placed opposite to the sun. Their rainbow-like appearance earned these stones the name Iris. 

4. Crazy Lace Agate

Dubbed by jewelers as Earth’s Rainbow, Crazy Lace Agate is a chalcedony infused with aluminum and iron, resulting in a colorful gemstone. It is also known as Mexican agate and comes in different colors, including grey, brown, white, etc. 

5. Thunder-egg

Thunder-egg agates are formed in volcanic ash layers with a rough globe shape. They may seem plain on the outside, but when cut in half and polished, the stone may have intricate designs. The size of this gemstone ranges between about an inch and around a meter across.

6. Enhydro Agate

Enhydro agates come with cavities that are filled with water and fluids. These are formed when silica-rich water filters through volcanic rocks, forming mineral layers. Aside from water, these stones will also have debris in them that varies from one stone to another.

7. Polyhedroid Agate

The polyhedroid agate has flat sides and looks a lot like a polyhedron in terms of color. When you cut this stone, you will see condensed polygons inside.

8. Moss Agate

Moss agate is characterized by the presence of green-colored mineral deposits, making the stone look like moss. It is not considered a true agate due to a lack of concentric bands.

9. The Lake Superior Agate

This type of agate is abundantly found in Minnesota and by Lake Superior, lending it its name and position as Minnesota’s state gemstone. It features iron-rich bands on the surface. 

10. Condor Agate

Condor agates were discovered in the mountains near San Rafael by Luis de Los Santos in 1993. Today, it is in high demand among jewelry designers and collectors. However, acquiring them is no longer as easy as it used to be and requires shallow diggings in Mendoza province, Argentina.

11. Sagenite Agate

The Sagenite agate is formed when you mix Chalcedony with different minerals. These are characterized by golden, pointy, and hair-like structures, which make them more attractive. 

12. Fortification Agate

The Fortification agate has sharp-edged bands that resemble a fortified castle, giving the gemstone its name. This stone is characterized by an array of orange, white, light brown, red, and purple colors.

From onyx to condor, Agates come in different varieties, each with specific patterns on it. These stones are primarily used to make jewelry, and the variations will allow you to match your outfit while wearing your lucky gemstone. Thus, go through the above-given list before choosing an Agate for yourself.