Agate

gemstones · minerals · colorful patterns

Striped mineral layers. Agates have beautiful bands of different colors running through them, created when layers of a mineral called chalcedony build up over time. Some bands go in circles (concentrically), while others form straight lines.

Found everywhere. You can discover agates on almost every continent on Earth. They form in rocks all around the world, making them one of the most common gemstones people can find.

Quartz crystals inside. Many agates contain visible quartz crystals mixed in with the colored bands, giving them extra sparkle and interest when you look closely.

The banding matters. Not every striped chalcedony is a true agate, because the bands have to form in a specific way. Agates have their own special pattern that makes them different from other banded stones.