Polished Brazilian water level agate with crystal pocket
$40.00
Sale price
$40.00
Regular price
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This specimen is a polished Brazilian water-level agate with a small crystal pocket, a variety of semi-precious gemstone renowned for its straight, parallel banding. These agates typically originate from the southern region of Brazil, specifically around Rio Grande do Sul.
Formation and Characteristics
Gravitational Banding: Water-level banding (also called parallel or horizontal banding) occurs when silica-rich solutions enter a rock cavity and settle slowly over time. The bands form in straight lines as they are controlled by gravity, effectively acting as a record of the "water level" within the cavity during formation.
Geological Origin: They primarily form in cavities (vesicles) within ancient volcanic rocks like basalt. Brazilian specimens are often mined from secondary deposits where the harder agate nodules have weathered out of the softer host rock.
Durability: Like all agates, it is a variety of cryptocrystalline quartz with a Mohs hardness of 6.5 to 7, making it very durable and suitable for a high polish.
Visual Appeal: While naturally occurring in earth tones like grey, white, and brown, Brazilian agates are frequently polished to reveal their intricate internal structures, which can include both fortification (concentric) and water-level (straight) banding.
Polished Brazilian water level agate with crystal pocket
$40.00
Sale price
$40.00
Regular price