What kind of an agate is this?

[Neelie]

While searching through differnt sites to try to identify an agate that belonged to my great grandmother, I came accross this page http://www.mysticmerchant.com/agate I almost fell of my chair when I saw the prices of some of the agates. But then I noticed that the site had something to do with ''talismans'', is this all true do agates posses such qualities.

Actually a friend wanted to buy this agate that belonged to my GGmother, but I was unsure of what kind it was or where to get it appraised. If my agate costs as much as these, i''m having second thaoughts about selling it!

I would still like to know what kind of an agate is this, since I know nothing about agates, except another one I have which has greem moss growing in it, at least it seems to be growing!

It measures about 47mm X 33mm X 3mm.

 

[Neelie]

Does anyone know anything about the agate I''m asking about, here is another pic, hope someone can identify it for me!

 

[Neelie]

and another!

 

[Arcadian]

I really don''t know. Have you tried here?

http://www.agatelady.com/agate-basics.html

it certainly looks to be a good place to start.


-A

 

[movie zombie]

are you sure its an agate?
it appears to be rather transluscent, more like a watermelon tourmaline.......
hard to tell from a picture. perhaps there''s a gemology group near you that could check it out for you: http://www.the-vug.com/vug/vugclubs.html

mz

 

[Neelie]

What is a watermelon tourmaline, I don''t think I''ve ever heard that name before.
Aren''t some agates translucent? Yes this agate is translucent, if it is an agate!

 

[movie zombie]

if it was a "watermelon" it would probably be a lot more red/pink with a definite green.

i think you will need to find a gemologist for your identification purposes.

mz

 

[Michael_E]

That agate looks very much like a Montana agate, which are often some shade of translucent browns to sepia on a clear background. The attached picture is of a Montana agate I saved from my agate cutting youth. I have also seen these brownish agates from Brazil and Uruguay. Apparently the Germans were really big into cutting agates in the last century and when they emigrated to South America they found huge deposits of these agates which they shipped back to Germany for cutting and distribution all over Europe. This could be something from South America that your Grandmother picked up as a trinket somewhere.

 

[Richard M.]

Date: 5/8/2010 6:03:18 AM
Author:Neelie

I would still like to know what kind of an agate is this

Your agate is a kind called "fortification agate." It got that name because its banded structure reminded people of the outlines of old forts. This image shows a fortification agate from Mexico, which formed the same way yours did but yours has a more uniform pattern. Such agates are found worldwide and are only one of many types of agate patterns which can include plume agate, moss agate, dendritic agate, sagenitic agate and more. Agates are generally valued on the basis of color, pattern and rarity.

Brazil is a well known source for brownish agates of that kind, as has been mentioned. They are found in many other places: Africa and India to mention only a couple, as well as across the U.S. I''ve found agates similar to yours in Idaho, Oregon, California and Wyoming.

Richard M. (Rick Martin)

 

[Neelie]

Date: 5/13/2010 11:30:40 PM
Author: Richard M.

Date: 5/8/2010 6:03:18 AM
Author:Neelie

I would still like to know what kind of an agate is this

Your agate is a kind called ''fortification agate.'' It got that name because its banded structure reminded people of the outlines of old forts. This image shows a fortification agate from Mexico, which formed the same way yours did but yours has a more uniform pattern. Such agates are found worldwide and are only one of many types of agate patterns which can include plume agate, moss agate, dendritic agate, sagenitic agate and more. Agates are generally valued on the basis of color, pattern and rarity.

Brazil is a well known source for brownish agates of that kind, as has been mentioned. They are found in many other places: Africa and India to mention only a couple, as well as across the U.S. I''ve found agates similar to yours in Idaho, Oregon, California and Wyoming.

Richard M. (Rick Martin)

My great grandmother arried in India back in 1886 and stayed there until the day she died. My guess is she aquired the agate in India, although there really is no way of knowing.

 

[Neelie]

Date: 5/9/2010 5:27:54 PM
Author: movie zombie
are you sure its an agate?
it appears to be rather transluscent, more like a watermelon tourmaline.......
hard to tell from a picture. perhaps there''s a gemology group near you that could check it out for you: http://www.the-vug.com/vug/vugclubs.html

mz

It is quite transluscent, here is another pic, holding it against the light.

 

[Neelie]

Date: 5/13/2010 2:09:38 PM
Author: Michael_E
That agate looks very much like a Montana agate, which are often some shade of translucent browns to sepia on a clear background. The attached picture is of a Montana agate I saved from my agate cutting youth. I have also seen these brownish agates from Brazil and Uruguay. Apparently the Germans were really big into cutting agates in the last century and when they emigrated to South America they found huge deposits of these agates which they shipped back to Germany for cutting and distribution all over Europe. This could be something from South America that your Grandmother picked up as a trinket somewhere.

My great grandmother never went to the US, she was Irish, and went to India after she got married. I feel she may have got the agate in India.
Although it is possible that a friend got it for her from somewhere else.

But yes, your agate does appear to be something like mine, Might be a montana agate then. Never heard of that name before, either!

 

[movie zombie]

agates are found around the globe. only way to know for sure is the gemologist route.

mz