Blue Lace Agate
| Also known as | Chalcedony (Chalcedony family) |
|---|---|
| Colour | Blue, White |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5–7 |
| Lustre | Waxy, vitreous when polished |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | Trigonal (quartz) or monoclinic (moganite) |
| Transparency | Translucent to opaque |
| Cleavage | None |
| Fracture | Conchoidal, subconchoidal |
| Chemical formula | SiO 2 (silicon dioxide) |
| Specific gravity | 2.6 |
What is Blue Lace Agate?
Blue lace agate is an agate variety with pale blue and white, lace-patterned banding. Until 2017, its primary source was a single, now-defunct mine in Namibia, although similar material can be found elsewhere. Blue lace agate is a vein agate; in Namibia, it formed in dolerite of Jurassic age. It is used in lapidary as a semiprecious gemstone.
How to identify Blue Lace Agate
- Lustre: Waxy, vitreous when polished.
- Hardness: Mohs 6.5–7 — about as hard as a steel knife.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: Trigonal (quartz) or monoclinic (moganite) crystal system.
Blue Lace Agate in different forms
Stones often confused with Blue Lace Agate
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Blue Lace Agate?
Blue Lace Agate is Mohs 6.5–7 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Blue Lace Agate?
Blue Lace Agate is typically blue, white (Pale blue, white).