Striped agate, often referred to as banded agate, is a variety of chalcedony characterized by distinct, concentric or parallel color banding. Collectors typically find these in volcanic geodes or as nodules in sedimentary deposits, often requiring lapidary polishing to reveal the full beauty of the banding patterns.
Is this stripped 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 stripped agate with a known reference. Stripped 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. Stripped Agate leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Stripped Agate typically shows a waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray, blue, brown, red, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: banded.
Often confused with
Stripped Agate vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside stripped agate
Minerals reported to co-occur with stripped 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
- 2.58-2.64 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Banded
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Decorative, Jewelry
- Host rock
- Volcanic Cavities and Sedimentary Nodules
- Typical price
- $5-50 thumbnail, $20-200 cabinet specimen
Where rockhounds find stripped agate
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Brazil
- Uruguay
- USA
- Mexico
- India
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic cavities and sedimentary nodules country — that is the host setting where stripped agate typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, amethyst in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a banded 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 stripped agate on the map
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