Fire agate, a variety of chalcedonywith an ancient and fiery beginning, is an all natural gemstone found only in certain areas of Arizona, northern Mexico, and other parts of 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 vulcanism when hot water, saturated with silica and iron oxide, repeatedly filled cracks and bubbles in the surrounding rock, often forming a botryoidal (grape-like) growth.
Fire agate gemstones have beautiful iridescent rainbow colors,similar to opal, with a measurement of hardness on the MOHS scale of between 6.5-7 which prevent the issues of cracking and scratching. The vibrant rainbow colors found within fire agates, created by the Schiller effect as found in mother-of-pearl and fire opal, is caused by the alternating silica and iron oxide layers which diffract and allow light to pass which forms the interference of colors known as fire. Besides the thin limonite and/or geothite iron oxide layers there is no actual objects inside the gems, the fire agate visual effects arise from light interference within the microstructure crystal layering of the gemstone.
Fire Agate Gemsare one of the hardest gemstones to produce, taking highly skilled lapidary work and the creative talents of a true artist. Dedication, patience and time will be needed if you plan on producing quality fire agate cabochons, but the final rewards are truly spectacular. The fire agate stone also has a large metaphysical following with the fire agate meaning and properites of being an excellent protection stone which reflects negative energies, and healing properties for the stomach, nervous and endocrine systems.
Fire Agate Gem Resources and InformationHere is a summary of what you will find on our website. Check out our fire agate location pages for helpful information on fire agate mineral locations and public fire agate rockhounding sites. A great selection of fire agate for sale can be found in our fire agate shopping section. Links to some of our favorite fire agate gemstone related websites are also found within our site. Some of these fire agate related resources include the Mineralogical fire agate data from Mindat.org, helpful Fire Agate gems carving tips, and amazing fire agate carvings and jewely creations from a variety of Fire Agate carvers.
Fire Agates Mineral Locations: This section provides a listing and description of many of the fire agate gemstone mineral locations with related information, links and photos. Several public fire agate rockhounding collection sites are also listed if you are interested in searching for your own fire agates. You will find information on the Black Hills, Saddle Mountain, Deer Creek, Round Mountain, Slaughter Mountain, Oatman, and Opal Hill fire agate gemstone mineral locations.
Fire Agate Links and Related Web Sites: This section provides links to several of our favorite fire agate related web sites. Check out these great websites for Mexican Fire Agate information, Fire Agate Gemstone Mineralogical data, helpful Fire Agate carving tips and links to amazing Fire Agate gem carvings.
Fire Agate For Sale: If you are looking for fire agate for sale then visit our Fire Agate Shopping page to help assist you in your fire agate gemstone, quality lapidary fire agate rough, fire agate jewelry, and fire agate mineral specimen shopping needs. We also have a Fire Agate Rough Buyers Guide available which is a good place to start if you are new to purchasing fire agate rough.
Fire Agate Store: Our eCommerce storefont has a variety of fire agate rough, windowed fire agate rough, finished fire agate gemstones, fine fire agate jewelry, and fire agate mineral specimens available for your collections. If you want to buy fire agate rough or fire agate gemstones and don't see what you are looking for in our online fire agate store, please drop us an email and let us know what you are looking for in regards to buying fire agates since we often perform gem brokering services. To help get you started in your fire agate shopping needs, here is a quick and easy Fire Agate search link.
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