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 — that is 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.
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.
