Agate with Geothite and Limonite inclusions that cause the stone to be iridescent. This iridescent agate is found in California, Arizona, and Mexico. A magnificent gem, it shows vivid opal-like colors when worked by a skilled lapidarist. The agate has many layers of clear agate interspersed with layers of fire which are orderly platelets of
The hardness of rocks is a fascinating and puzzling study for the beginning rockhound. The durability of gemstones is of great importance to anyone setting up a tumbler or starting to make cabochons. The rock’s resistance to wear (abrasion or “scratching”) is indicated by its hardness, or as sometimes defined by mineralogists, its “scratchability”. The hardness of any material depends