Fire agate, a variety of chalcedony, is a
semi-precious natural gemstone found only in certain areas of northern Mexico
and the southwestern United States. Approximately 24-36 million years ago these
areas were subjected to massive volcanic activity during the Tertiary Period.
The fire agates were formed during this period of volcanism when hot water,
saturated with silica and iron oxide, repeatedly filled cracks and bubbles in
the surrounding rock.
Fire agates have beautiful iridescent rainbow
colors, similar to opal, with a measurement of hardness on the Mohs scale of
between 6.5 and 7 which prevent issues of fading, cracking and scratching. The
vibrant iridescent rainbow colors found within fire agates, created by the
Schiller effect as found in mother-of-pearl, is caused by the alternating
silica and iron oxide layers which diffract and allow light to pass and form
interference of colors known as fire. There is no actual object inside the
stone, this special effect arises from light interference within the
microstructure layering of the gem.
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