Fire Agate (large stone with rare PURPLE flash)

Item Description

An impressive large stone of this unique, distinctive and classic material. We've seen the demand for Fire Agate rise in recent years, and big colorful stones like this are certainly not easy to find. Fire Agate is one of the rarest forms of Agate and has been available commercially only in the last 60 years. Fire Agate is a brown Agate which has a botryoidal or grape-like growth form. 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 "Pear" Cabochon cut gem is a beautiful large example of this well known material, showing the rarely seen and highly desirable purple / lavender flashes in the central portion when the stone is rotated in the light. Small areas of yellow, green and blue flashes can be seen as well, but it's the purple / lavender hue that really matters on this one. Only a tiny percentage of this material shows this highly sought after color. Good quality and size, and perfect for any collector who wants an impressive stone of this classic material. Valued $2,066.40 retail.