rare
lake superior agate
bands let light through · the red is rust
The tell
Concentric bands that follow the shape of the cavity the agate grew in (sharp lines, not fuzzy ones), plus translucency at any thin edge.
If it does not pass light and the bands are soft-edged parallel stripes, it is banded chert. This is the single most common misidentification on the lake.
What it gets mistaken for
- banded chert
- carnelian
- red jasper
- thunder egg
The facts
- also calledthe red is rust · ice spread them to kansas
- age~1.1 billion yrs
- where it turns upSuperior basin · Keweenaw and Grand Marais on our side
- the field markhold it to the sun · light passes at the edge
10% of every order goes to northern Michigan animal shelters.