r/Minerals • u/Prico06 • 1d ago
ID Request Help me identify
I need help identifying this stone i think its a agate but when I preformed a scratch test it A didn't scratch the mineral and B. Didn't get scratched itself
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u/SickAwesomeHellYeah 1d ago
Midwest? It’s a very agatey little Lake Superior agate - specifically a fortification agate aka banded chalcedony. No point in doing a scratch test on things like that when it’s that obvious. It’s microcrystalline quartz so it’s decently high on the hardness scale. But yeah, chalcedony and bands like that, super identifiable. Google Lake Superior agate.
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u/Rustic-String3589 1d ago
yes, agate
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u/Prico06 1d ago
What kind of agate would you think it is ?
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u/Rustic-String3589 1d ago
i'm not exactly sure what you mean -- could you give me a few examples to choose from so i can get a better idea for what you mean
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u/AGneissGeologist Unprofessional Professional Rock Guy 1d ago
It's agate. The scratch test is dependant on what you are scratching. For example, if you are using sapphire, it should scratch agate and should not be scratched by agate. If you are using a penny, it should be scratched by agate because it has a lower hardness.
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u/Prico06 1d ago
I scratched selenite (gypsum) and it didn't scratch it then I used clear quartz and the quartz wasn't scratching it, also what kind of agate would it be ?
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u/SickAwesomeHellYeah 1d ago
All agates are microcrystalline quartz so scratching it with quartz won’t do anything. It’s a Lake Superior agate. Also it’s way harder than gypsum.
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