Fire Agate

Mexico
Gems, 6.36 ct, 15.52 mm x 9.84 mm
Start Time: 09/24/2020 9:00:00 pm (CDT)
End Time: 10/01/2020 7:00:00 pm (CDT)
Auction Closed
Winning Bid: $100

Item Description

Agate is a form of chalcedony or microcrystalline quartz which forms in layers in a remarkable variety of colors and textures. The most familiar Agate is the banded agate which has multicolored layers. Idar-Oberstein, Germany was once famous for its Agate mines, and agate carving there has a long tradition which continues to this day. Indeed Agate has an even longer history, since the Egyptians used Agate as a gemstone more than 3,000 years ago. 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 "Cushion Cabochon" cut gem is a beautiful example of this well known material, showing blue, green, gold and orange flashes when rotated in the light. Good quality and size, and perfect for any collector who wants an affordable stone of this material.

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Bidding History

Bid Amount Bid Time
$100 09/28/2020 10:32:31 pm (CDT)