Product Details

Swazi Agate pair light grey with a more blue tint and lavender fortifications in the center. Also has white plume agate tubes with light banding on the outside. No cracks in this stone that I have noticed. Photos taken in two different light conditions. Stone Dimensions. Stone 1: 2-1/4" Long x 1-1/2" Tall x 1-1/4" Wide Stone2: 2-1/4" Long x 1-1/2" Tall x 1-1/4" Wide Thank you for looking. Core Composition Base Mineral: Chalcedony, which is a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. Chemical Formula: \ (SiO_{2}\). What Creates the Colors and Bands The unique aesthetic of Swazi Agate comes from microscopic mineral inclusions and varying trace elements trapped during the stone's formation in volcanic rock: Rose, Red, and Orange: Traces of iron or hematite. Gray and Blue: Generally caused by light scattering and microscopic trace elements or inclusions. Banding: Alternating layers formed by the slow, rhythmic deposition of silica-rich fluids and impurities over time. Noteworthy Characteristics Shadow Banding (Parallax): A distinctive visual effect where the bands appear to float or shift depending on the viewing angle. Quartz Centers: Many of the smaller, broken nodules found in this region are hollow centers filled with tiny, clear, or milky quartz crystals. Despite its name implying an origin in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), this material is primarily mined in the volcanic terrain of Mozambique. Despite its name, Swazi agate originates exclusively from Mozambique in southeastern Africa, primarily sourced from the volcanic terrains in and around the Tete Province. Appearance: These agates are highly prized by lapidary artists and collectors for their "tie-dye" appearance. They frequently display rich, translucent banding in a kaleidoscope of colors including carnelian red, pink, lavender, blue, grey, and black.