How much is a Fairburn Agate worth?
The Fairburn agate is named for the town of Fairburn. Agates may not show their unique beauty until they are split, like this one. The gems can easily be worth upwards of $1,000, depending on their size, shape and color, according to collector Woodden.
How do you identify a Fairburn Agate?
In addition to identifying the Fairburn Agates by their distinct colors, one can also identify them by their unique parallel banding. Select pieces will show tight banding and nice coloration. When searching among other rocks Fairburn agates can also be identified by their smooth, exterior texture.
What does Lake Superior agates look like?
Identification. General description: Lake Superior agates are generally shaped as irregular spheres. They are made up of quartz, often reddened by iron and deposited in layers to create concentric circles that look like the rings on the cross section of a tree.
What is prairie agate?
Prairie agate is variegated quartz; Nebraska has an abundance of this colorful semi-precious stone, particularly in the Oglala National Grassland. Popular for jewelry, prairie agate is distinctive because it seldom has the bands of other agates.
Are agates worth any money?
Most agates are cheap ($1 – $10), but some can be very expensive ($100 – $3000) depending on their type, colors, and the location where they were found. Tumbled agate is automatically more expensive than raw agate and those with very vibrant colors, fine bands or are found in one place only also cost more.
Where can I find Fairburn Agate?
South Dakota is known in the rock hounding world for Fairburn agates, which are among the most elusive stones on earth. They are found in only a few spots in southwestern South Dakota, chiefly in agate beds near Fairburn in Custer County (hence the name).
Are there agates in the Badlands?
The widespread badlands of western South Dakota offer the rockhound thousands of acres of interesting collection for a wide spectrum of colorful gem materials. Most sought after is the brightly patterned fairburn agate, an elusive and distinctive agate, the official State Gem of South Dakota.
How do I know if I found an agate?
Inspect the surface of the stone for pit marks. Agates sometimes form in igneous rock and are surrounded by softer rock that erodes away, which can result in surface pitting. Slide your fingers into a crack in the stone or a part of the exterior that has worn away. If you feel waxiness, this is a sign of an agate.
What is the most popular Lake Superior agate?
fortification agate
A few Lake Superior agates have been found that are 22 cm in diameter with a mass exceeding 10 kilograms. Very large agates are extremely rare. The most common type of Lake Superior agate is the fortification agate with its eye-catching banding patterns.
Are prairie agates worth money?
In general, agate values are quite modest. Their prices reflect mainly labor and artistry rather than the value of the material itself. Agates of large size or with particularly distinctive, fine, or landscape-like color patterns are at a premium.
How do I know if I have an agate?