Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Feb 21, 2004 2:27:36 GMT -5
How do you tell the difference between jasper and agate? I see so many patterns and colors that are similar between the two, what is the difference?
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 21, 2004 11:20:09 GMT -5
Hey Banjo. Not sure myself about that, but both of them are varieties of Chalcedony. I've always just figured that Jasper was really just a special type of agate.
Ron
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Post by sandsman1 on Feb 21, 2004 12:40:47 GMT -5
i was thinking that maybe agate is see through and jasper isent i dont realy know but the stuff i have seems to be that way but dont put money onit hahahaha seeya john
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 21, 2004 13:50:33 GMT -5
I think you may be right John. I think I have read somewhere that agate usually has some translucent qualities and Jasper is opaque.
Ron
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Post by rockyraccoon on Feb 21, 2004 14:16:37 GMT -5
my book says agates are banded and jaspers are mottled.
kim
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Trylobyte
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 101
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Post by Trylobyte on Feb 23, 2004 0:48:47 GMT -5
I've been on a collecting binge lately, and have actually begun to hit paydirt in Western Washington with both agate and jasper.
Here's my take on the difference:
Agate is always transparent or translucent, and frequently (but not always) has banding and various shades of clear, white, red, and orange (at least here in Western WA). Lake Superior agates are neither transparent nor translucent, but do show the same banding and some amazing colors. I guess the banding is the key then.
Jasper comes in a wide variety of colors, from the classic red to tan, green, orange. Jasper is opaque, and never translucent, but may have veins of agate and quartz. I have found stones that have agate blending into jasper, or agate inclusions in jasper.
Both agate and jasper show a conical fracture pattern typical of cryptocrystaline quartz. Obsidian has the same fracture pattern, but is considerably softer.
Carnellian seems to be another name for agate that is highly colored, but just barely translucent at the thinnest fractured edges.
Found about 20 lbs of all three today! Pictures to follow.
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BC
no posts
Member since February 2004
Posts: 0
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Post by BC on Feb 23, 2004 7:04:39 GMT -5
Everybody is right. Agate that has alot of minerals in it that makes it opaque is called jasper. That is why most translucent rocks are known as agate.
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