Fire Agate

Item Description

Here we have a beautiful and classic Fire Agate gem from Mexico. Fire Agate is one of the rarest forms of Agate, that has a notably distinctive appearance unlike any other Agates you'll find. The material from Mexico has been available commercially only in the last 60 years, so it's still fairly new to the market. Fire Agate is typically brown, which may not be a desirable hue for Agate, but it also has a botryoidal or grape-like growth form, and what is special about this material is that it contains layers of plate-like crystals of iron oxide (limonite) in various planes. The iridescent colors of red, gold, green and, occasionally, blue-violet, result from interference between diffracted light rays traveling through and reflecting from these thin layers. High quality Fire Agates can be as impressive in their play of color as fine Black Opal, but Fire Agate is significantly more durable than Opal. Fire Agate is suitable for any kind of jewelry, including rings. This "Freeform" Cabochon cut gem is a good example showing deep amber//brown hues on the exterior, and bright red, orange, yellow and green flashes in the central portion when the stone is rotated in the light. Good quality and size, and perfect for any collector who wants an impressive stone of this classic material.