Red agate is a microcrystalline variety of quartz characterized by its distinctive translucent to opaque red banding. It forms primarily in cavities of volcanic rocks through the deposition of silica-rich solutions, often exhibiting beautiful patterns when cut and polished.
Is this red 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 red agate with a known reference. Red 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. Red Agate leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Red Agate typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, orange-red, brownish-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: banded, massive, botryoidal.
Often confused with
Red Agate vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Red Agate and vitreous to waxy on Carnelian.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Red Agate and waxy on Jasper.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Red Agate and waxy on Sard.
Often found alongside red agate
Minerals reported to co-occur with red 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
- 2.6-2.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Banded, Massive, Botryoidal
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Decorative, Collector
- Host rock
- Volcanic Cavities and Amygdules
- Typical price
- $5-30 per piece
Where rockhounds find red agate
6 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Brazil
- Botswana
- India
- USA
- Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic cavities and amygdules country, the host setting where red agate typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, goethite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a banded, massive, botryoidal habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico. Start trip planning there.
More red agate photos
Common questions
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Find red agate on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
