Moss Agate Jewelry
A clear to milky chalcedony filled with green, moss-like mineral tendrils
Unearthed Gemstones Moss Agate Jewelry
Click the photos for a closer look of the jewelry pieces
Hardness
6.5 - 7 (Durable): Great for daily wear.
Toughness
Good (Generally resistant to chipping under normal wear)
Mineral Family
Quartz (Chalcedony)
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
Crystal System
Trigonal
Lustre
Waxy
What Is Moss Agate?
Moss agate is a clear to milky chalcedony filled with green, mossy-looking tendrils. Here is the fun part: there is no actual moss involved, and technically it is not even a true agate, since it lacks banding. The greenery is mineral, mostly chlorite and hornblende, that crept into the silica as it hardened, freezing tiny forests and meadows in stone. India is the classic source, with more material from the USA, Australia and Brazil. Eighteenth-century farmers in Europe considered it a lucky stone for good crops.
Is Moss Agate Durable Enough for Everyday Jewelry?
With chalcedony's hardness of 6.5 to 7 and no cleavage, moss agate is an easy, durable choice for rings, pendants and beads. It is cut in cabochons, slices and gentle freeforms, since the point is to look into the scene rather than watch light sparkle. Each stone is a one-off landscape, which makes choosing one a pleasure.
How to Care for Moss Agate Jewelry
Care is simple: warm, soapy water and a soft cloth, and it will keep its tiny garden green for a lifetime.
Gemstones Similar to Moss Agate
Lodolite is its quartz cousin with similar garden scenes locked inside.
