Clear Agate is a translucent, microcrystalline variety of silica that appears as colorless to faintly white or grey bands. It is typically found in geodes or as nodules within volcanic host rocks and is highly prized by lapidaries for its clarity and ability to take a high polish.
Is this clear agate?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch clear agate with a known reference. Clear Agate sits at Mohs 6.5-7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Clear Agate leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Clear Agate typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Clear Agate vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside clear agate
Minerals reported to co-occur with clear agate. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5-7
- Density
- 2.55-2.70 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Volcanic Cavities and Sedimentary Rocks
- Typical price
- $5-50 for typical specimens
Where rockhounds find clear agate
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Brazil
- USA
- Mexico
- Botswana
- India
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic cavities and sedimentary rocks country — that is the host setting where clear agate typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, chalcedony, jasper in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Jersey — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find clear agate on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
