Help with Agate ID

[silverdust79]

Hi guys!!

My buddy and I just had a really fun weekend. I found this agate right before we found our first gold nugget!!

I found this in eastern Oregon in the Umatilla National forest near Susanville. I did some looking around on the internet & only found 2 different types of blue agates in/near Oregon. One type they call "Holly Blue" and another they call "Ellensburg Blues".

Is there any way to identify which type this is?

Thanks a lot for the help!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Family Maps of Hinds County, Mississippi, Deluxe Edition - Grab it through Amazon!

[IAMZIM]

Wow! Has that classic chalcedony shape, but I have never seen that color before!

 

[silverdust79]

Wow! Has that classic chalcedony shape, but I have never seen that color before!

Haha nice -neither have I. We took a leap last winter and bought a claim. There's lots of white agates, red colored agates, & red jasper littered everywhere. But this little blue/purple guy was saying "daddy take me home" right on top of the gravel

 

[Eu_citzen]

I've seen similar before. I've always been hesitant to name agates, IMO it's more of a trade-name thing. (that's sure to open a can of worms!)
But perhaps it's just my lack of fascination by agates.

 

[silverdust79]

I've seen similar before. I've always been hesitant to name agates, IMO it's more of a trade-name thing. (that's sure to open a can of worms!)
But perhaps it's just my lack of fascination by agates.

Makes sense to name it if ya wanna sell it i guess hahaha catchy names might = more sales.

 

[galenrog]

This is neither Holly Blue or Ellensburg Blue. Why not? Well, it was not found near either Holly, Oregon or Ellensburg, Washington. If you can identify a deposit, rather than a single specimen, and it polishes to a good blue color, you could name the deposit.

I have found blue, lavender, purple and similar colored agate and chalcedony in Oregon, Idaho, California, and Nevada. Almost always as single stones. If it cuts and polishes well, it is a winner.

Time for coffee.

 

[silverdust79]

This is neither Holly Blue or Ellensburg Blue. Why not? Well, it was not found near either Holly, Oregon or Ellensburg, Washington. If you can identify a deposit, rather than a single specimen, and it polishes to a good blue color, you could name the deposit.

I have found blue, lavender, purple and similar colored agate and chalcedony in Oregon, Idaho, California, and Nevada. Almost always as single stones. If it cuts and polishes well, it is a winner.

Time for coffee.

Well that makes a ton of sense. I didn't realize they were named after the specific area/deposit they were found. I thought it was because of a specific trait/color.

Thanks for the help galenrog!

 

[Eu_citzen]

The origin of the names vary. Trade-names can also relate to locations; Paraiba tourmaline is a nice example. They come from Paraiba, Brazil.

Other trade-names make use of a typical characteristic: Moss agate often has moss like inclusions.

Some minerals are named in honour of scientists who found them, to. So you see, the origin of the names varies greatly.

As a side note... One often overlooked agate has to be "Iris Agate".

 

[unclemac]

True Ellensburg blue of gem quality is expensive stuff too...and very hard to polish to that caliber..it has some unique qualities.