<p>Dyeing agate is a common practice- the stone is real, but it's been cosmetically altered. The stone gets soaked in a chemical solution, which is absorbed into the microscopic pores in the stone.  Whatever dye the person who made these coasters used must have been water-soluble.  So, yes, cold water would also cause the pigments to bleed.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-16T21:36:10.197Z
2021-01-16T21:36:10.197Z
Karst
<p>I came across this review on Amazon. The cold drink was placed on top of the agate stone and the dye bled and left a permanent mark on the table.</p>
<p>Why does this happen? Is it because of the condensation as mentioned by the customer? Can regular warm water also cause the same effect?</p>
<p>I just want to know why dyes work, and what makes them bleed.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/e6tmj.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/e6tmj.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-27T05:21:11.977Z
please read the two first lines here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agate#Uses_in_industry_and_art it is probably a fake agate.
trond hansen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-28T05:46:25.780Z
@trondhansen the agate itself is probably real. The colour is what’s fake
Gimelist
<mineralogy><rocks><minerals>
What causes dye to bleed from an agate stone?
Mac_79
# What causes dye to bleed from an agate stone?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-26)

I came across this review on Amazon. The cold drink was placed on top of the agate stone and the dye bled and left a permanent mark on the table.

Why does this happen? Is it because of the condensation as mentioned by the customer? Can regular warm water also cause the same effect?

I just want to know why dyes work, and what makes them bleed.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/e6tmj.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/e6tmj.png)

**Tags:** mineralogy, rocks, minerals

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: please read the two first lines here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agate#Uses_in_industry_and_art it is probably a fake agate.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 the agate itself is probably real. The colour is what’s fake  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-01-16. Score: 3

Dyeing agate is a common practice- the stone is real, but it's been cosmetically altered. The stone gets soaked in a chemical solution, which is absorbed into the microscopic pores in the stone. Whatever dye the person who made these coasters used must have been water-soluble. So, yes, cold water would also cause the pigments to bleed.


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