Agate Value, Price, and Jewelry Informa on

Agate, Mexico, “For fica on Agate” (a picture agate with a pa ern that resembles a fortress), Slab ~ 4 inches across. Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with
permission.

Agate is a variety of chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. Translucency, pa erns of color, or moss-like inclusions may dis nguish this stone from o
forms of chalcedony. Agates can show a wide variety of vivid, mul ple colors. These are principally the result of traces of oxides of iron, manganese, taniu
chromium, nickel, and other elements. All agates take a wonderful polish and are tough enough for most jewelry uses. Designers o en take advantage of th
intriguing pa erns these stones have to offer to create unique and fascina ng pieces.

Agate Value
In general, agate values are quite modest. Their prices reflect mainly labor and ar stry rather than the value of the material itself. Agates of large size or wit
par cularly dis nc ve, fine, or landscape-like color pa erns are at a premium. Custom cut pieces or stones from collec ble loca ons would be substan ally
expensive.

The Interna onal Gem Society (IGS) has a list of businesses offering gemstone appraisal services.

Agate Value via Gem Price Guide

Cabochons All Sizes

Agate $.50 to   /ct

Fire Agate    to   /ct

Blue Chalcedony    to   /ct

See the en re Gem Price Guide.

Start an IGS Membership today for full access to our price guide (updated monthly).
See Plans and Pricing
Agate Informa on
DATA VALUE

Name Agate

Is a Variety of Chalcedony

Varie es Fire Agate, Iris Agate

Crystallography  Hexagonal, cryptocrystalline

Refrac ve Index  1.530-1.543

Colors  All

Luster  Greasy, waxy

Polish Luster  Greasy to vitreous

Fracture Luster  Dull to waxy

Fracture  Uneven

Hardness  6.5-7

Specific Gravity  2.60-2.64

Birefringence  Up to 0.004

Cleavage  None

Dispersion  None

Luminescence  Fluorescence varies with bands. Somewhat strong: yellow, blue-white

Wearability  Good

Enhancements  Dyeing (common, stable).

Transparency  Usually translucent. Occasionally transparent or opaque.

Absorp on Dyed green gems show weak lines at 6450 and 6700. Others not diagnos c.
Spectrum 

Phenomena  Iridescence

Formula SiO2

Pleochroism  None.

Op cs  Uniaxial (+).

Etymology From the Ancient Greek Achates, the name of a river in southwestern Sicily where the material was found.

Occurrence Nodules

Varie es of Agate
The color pa erns in agates usually take the form of flat or concentric layers or bands. Mossy or dendri c inclusions can some mes create the impression o
vegeta on and landscapes. Varie es of this gemstone are described by their color pa erns, inclusions, or source.

Banded
With regular color layers and bright colors, this variety is one of the most popular. These stones are found all around the world, but Brazil is one of the mos
produc ve sources. Many of the richly colored, banded agates you see for sale are dyed.

This banded agate specimen is one inch (2.5 cm) wide. “Agate Banded 750 pix” by Adrian
Pingstone. Public Domain.

Moss, Plume, and Dendri c

These stones contain mossy inclusions of mineral oxides that may be any color. Stones that present plant-like pa erns are called moss agates. Those with fe
like pa erns are called plume agates. Those with tree-like, branching pa erns are called dendri c agates.

“Moss Agate 3” by Nicole Pellegrini is licensed under CC By 2.0

Picture or Scenic
Some inclusions can create the appearance of whole landscapes, complete with lakes, shorelines, trees, and shrubs, within an agate. Stones that show these
“natural pictures” are treasured.

Fire
Inclusions of plate-like crystals of limonite make fire agates iridescent. Cu ng and polishing can enhance this effect.

Fire agate, photo by Wraithwing. Public Domain.

Lace
Noted for their delicate designs, these stones are banded with intricate swirls and loops. Mexico is one of the premier sources of this material.
 Lace agates with red bands are considered rare. “Two Missouri Lace Agates.” © Cara
Williams, Stone Group Labs. Used with permission.

Iris
These stones show iridescent colors reflec ng from between the color layers.

Shell
Embedded, silicified shells create pa erns in these agates. Turritella agate is composed mostly of shells and shell fragments of the gastropod turritella and c
other species.

The spiral shells in this specimen of “turritella agate” are actually from another species of mollusk.
However, the name is s ll commonly applied to this variety. “‘Turritella Agate’ (cher fied
 fossiliferous lacustrine limestone) (Laney Member, Green River Forma on, Middle Eocene; North
Barrel Springs Draw, south of Wamsu er, Wyoming, USA) 4” by James St. John is licensed under
CC By 2.0

Petrified Wood
Fossilized ancient tree trunks and limbs may have their organic components replaced by agate stone over millions of years. In some cases, their woody stru
may also be preserved and visible with a microscope. The agate’s color may be very bright and strong.

Synthe cs
For informa on on synthe c quartz in general, consult the quartz gem lis ng.

Enhancements
Dyeing is an ancient and common prac ce for enhancing agates. (Chalcedony stones are rela vely porous). This is usually a stable process.

A celebrated secret process for dyeing agates was developed in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, in the 19th century. When the agate deposits in this town were d
emigrants to South America shipped grey agates back to Idar-Oberstein. These pieces were dyed and the results were extraordinary.

Dyeing enhancements should be disclosed to consumers.

Polished, commercially dyed agate stones. “Agates Varying Colours” by Teerui. Public Domain.

Sources
Moss agates: India; Scotland; United States Northwest.

Scenic agates: Yellowstone Na onal Park; Wyoming; Montana.

Banded agates: Brazil; Uruguay; Madagascar; Mexico; United States.

Lace agate: Mexico; Arizona; Namibia.

Fire agates: Mexico.

Petrified wood: Arizona; New Mexico; California; Washington; Oregon; various European countries; many other locali es.

Stone Sizes
Agates are usually nodular, but masses can be several pounds and many inches in diameter.
 “Akik (also Hakeek or Agate) stones and rings sold at the apex of Jabal ar-Rahmah (also Mount
Arafat) in Makkah” by Kerina Yin. Public Domain.

by Joel E. Arem, Ph.D., FGA, Donald Clark, CSM IMG, Barbara Smigel, PhD. GG

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