Agate (var: Iris Agate) (rainbow iridescence)

Item Description

Here we have a gorgeous and rarely seen example of what is commonly referred to as Iris Agate (sometimes Rainbow Iris Agate). These Agates form in fine banded layers like most Agates, but they are unique in the sense that when the pieces are thinly sliced and viewed through transmitted light, they display a rarely seen rainbow iridescence.

PLEASE NOTE: You can't see the rainbow flashes in ordinary lighting situations. The optimal way to view this material is in a completely dark room with a solitary concentrated light source behind the Agate. The video we recorded for this piece was shot inside of a photo box in a pitch black room with a cell phone camera light behind it. This is important as some people don't realize what is necessary to show the see the rainbow iridescence. I've heard some people can get the colors to appear in sunlight, but we haven't had much luck, especially with terms of capturing the phenomenon in photos or video.

You can see on this piece that the nearly colorless zones of the Agate show the rainbow flashes brilliantly, and they are very difficult to capture in a photo or video, but I will say they look as good if not better in person. This piece is 100% natural, no dyes or treatment whatsoever, this is what a good Iris Agate looks like. It's from a new find (within the last few months) in Indonesia, and the quality is as good as anything else I've seen on the market. I love the fact that this piece is complete all the way around, and the outer "rind" is completely intact. For reference, the old classic Iris Agates from Montana sell for big money these days, and these new pieces from Indonesia are just as good in my opinion, so don't miss out on getting your hands on a showy and fine quality example for a great price. Most of the Montana Iris Agates are not complete slices like this piece either, they're usually only partial sections of the complete Agate. The piece weighs 21.49 grams.