Fire Agate (rare PURPLE flash)

Item Description

Agate is defined in the mineral world as a form of chalcedony or microcrystalline Quartz which forms in layers creating wonderful colors and textures. I think most people are familiar with Banded Agate which has multicolored layers, but one of the rarest forms of Agate - Fire Agate - 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 fire agate 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 beautiful example of this well known material, showing the rarely seen and highly desirable purple / lavender hue flashes when rotated in the light. Additionally areas of red, orange, yellow and green 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 affordable example of this classic material.