Story: Gemstones

Chalcedony and agate

Chalcedony consists of microscopic crystals of quartz, so small that they can only be seen under the microscope. Different coloured forms are given different names; for example, carnelian is reddish. Agate is a specific form of chalcedony that has parallel banding.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
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How to cite this page:

Jocelyn Thornton, 'Gemstones - Quartz', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/interactive/5122/chalcedony-and-agate (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Jocelyn Thornton, published 12 Jun 2006