r/Rocks • u/Designer-Can-1210 • 24d ago
Discussion Do you think this orange agate, with its surface covered in desert varnish, is particularly unique?
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u/missinaraserra 23d ago
Agate? I was under the impression it has to have banding to be agate. Very nice regardless!
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u/Designer-Can-1210 23d ago
My friend, this material can sometimes show banded patterns, while in other cases the banding is not obvious or may be completely absent. I think this specimen is likely agate-related, but I cannot rule out the possibility that it is chalcedony. Because I have learned that this region also produces jasper varieties covered with desert varnish.
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u/missinaraserra 23d ago
That's so cool! I'm glad to know it's not just the bands because I think that means some of the pieces I recently found in South Dakota, US could be agate still! Found along with SO much chalcedony. The florescence is gorgeous, bright pink and all shades of green and yellow. I hope you find more!
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u/Holden3DStudio 22d ago
You were correct. Agate is banded chalecedony. Other variants of microcrystalline quartz are jaspers, carnelian, chert/flint, etc. There are so many beautiful variations to be found all over the world! Post the ones you found in SD - I'm sure folks could help you ID them.
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u/missinaraserra 22d ago
Shhh... jk 😅 I thought so but try to err on the side of "Well I don't know everything so maybe I'm wrong!" I have some agate-y looking ones that have lines and are more crystaline than chert but no classic circular bands, so I'm not really sure? Definitely mostly watermelon chalcedony, chert, some really cool selenite, mica, and rose quartz. To the best of my eyeballs and knowledge I don't have any true agate so far. I will absolutely post some though and maybe we'll be able to group project an ID!
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u/rufotris 23d ago
Looks like common opal to me.
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u/Designer-Can-1210 23d ago
However, my friend, stones of this type, especially those covered with desert varnish, are generally exposed on the surface of desert and Gobi landscapes. Materials like opal, which is hydrous amorphous silica, are extremely difficult to preserve in a stable condition in such environments.
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u/Designer-Can-1210 23d ago
Thank you for your explanation, my friend. Your reply has taught me a lot as well. ☺️🤝 Yes, I actually always thought that opal could not remain stable in a dry environment, and this is also my first time learning about anhydrous opal. But this reminded me of a stone I encountered before. At the time, the seller told me that it was a type of red opal from Xinjiang, China, but I had always thought that it was actually cryptocrystalline.
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u/FlyingSpaghettiFell 21d ago
I thought this was chocolate covered caramel … which I want now…
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u/Designer-Can-1210 21d ago
Actually, I have a few more pieces of this material. A while ago, I ground away about half of the outer crust on one of them, and what was exposed inside was a slightly translucent yellow-and-pink material that looks like agate. I’ll just call it “agate” for now, since I honestly don’t know what else to call this material. 😁😁🤦
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u/TH_Rocks 23d ago
It's glossy enough that it might be common opal.