FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Lyoung266]

I found this rock and it kind of looks like an agate but not sure need some help. Wanted to get it cut but I talked to someone who collects agates as well and said that I shouldn’t get it cut to find out so I’m thinking that it might be an agate.

[Bob Harman]

Welcome to the forum.

First of all your photograph is not good.......too much focusing on the muddy gravel rather than the rock in question. Always put the dry specimen in question on a plain bland background with nothing else in the picture (including your hand).

Having said that, while "an agate" can have somewhat differing definitions, most consider it chalcedony/microcrystalline quartz with concentric banding or lacy patterns.

Your photo shows just the outside of a rounded rock, possibly a jasper type quartz due to its yellow brown color. To be called "an agate" your example would have to be cut or otherwise opened to show the proper chalcedony mineral and architectural pattern.
As it now is, your example is just a round yellow brown (iron stained?? or jasperoid quartz) rock/nodule, not otherwise specified (nos). Bob

[SteveB]

First follow Bob’s advice.
Second provide a precise location where you found it. Thats vital, it could be a geode which often includes crsyatl and agate banding.but location is everything. Not a photos of wet gravel.
Just cut the damn thing, contact a local lapidary club for pricing and advice, examination of exterior to determine where/how to cut is important in geodes IF it if one. If its just a brown rock you’ll have two paper weights or book ends and some experience to check forum rules before wasting time with and artificially represented item and zero information.