Dendritic Agate

Dendritic is a member of agate family and is considered a quartz. Dendritic agate has its roots in Greek. Most of this agate is found in white, cream and gray and they display patterns like trees or ferns due to having iron and manganese which is why this stone is called dendrite. It is also called the autumn stone or spring stone. Autumn dendritic stone is usually yellow or orange.

There are different hypotheses about how these patterns are formed. Some believe that the reflection of lightning has created such patterns.

In the past, the Greeks believed that this stone was the soul of the forest trees, so they placed it in agricultural fields to harvest many crops. Of course, it was popularly used for therapeutic and talismanic purposes in ancient Egypt and Greece, and later it became popular among Iranians and other Middle Eastern countries.

Where Does Dendritic Agate Come from?

The word agate is derived from the name of a river called Achates in the peninsula of Sicily and agate was first found somewhere in the southeast of this island and was known as a precious gem. However, fortunately it can be mined in most countries around the world today. Agate is mostly used in silver jewelry. Agate can be found in different colors including black, yellow, pink, red, white, and brown, and it includes various types such as Yemeni agate, dendritic agate, etc. We will continue with discussing some methods to identify genuine agate from fake.

Why Is It Called Dendritic Agate?

Dendritic agate is a group of white or blue agates- in some Yemeni varieties, red agates- which often have brown or black streaks in the shape of trees, nature scenes, and sometimes animals. The ancients believed that dendritic agate retains an image of the surrounding environment due to lightning, in other words it actually acts like a photographic negative, and different scenes will be formed depending on the location of the agate. But in fact, the main reason for creation of this stone is the growth of the dendritic structure of manganese oxide inside the agate stone during crystallization.

Pricing Criteria

Pricing dendritic agate stones is often based on the structure of patterns, the size of the gem, and most importantly, the taste and interest of the buyer and seller.

How to Identify Genuine Dendritic Agate?

Since dendritic stones have many microscopic traces and cracks, they are considered suitable cases for chemical coloring and due to their attractive patterns, they can attract amateur customers. Therefore, if you intend to buy a piece of dendritic agate, get information from the related experts. In the following, we will discuss some methods of identifying the original agate.

Method One:

regardless of its type, agate is harder than glass. Thus, if you drag an agate stone on a piece of glass, it will cause a slight scratch on the glass, and if the opposite happens, doubt it.

Method Two:

Of two agates of the same size, the heavier agate is the genuine one because genuine agates have a high density and therefore, they weigh more than their similar samples.

Method Three:

Excessive order is a sign of human intervention. Agates which look like a glass ball and are free from any irregularity can be fake. The original agates often have a little chaos and irregularity, and sometimes irregular lines and clouds can be seen inside them.

Method Four:

Genuine agates feel cool in summer and hot weather and reflect a warm feeling to your hand in cold weather, while artificial and fake agates reflect the ambient temperature.

Types of Dendritic in Terms of Color

• White dendritic;
• Cream dendritic.

Types of Dendritic in Terms of Shape

• Tree including fens-like shapes;
• Spring including colorful tree-like shapes.

Dendritic Mines

There are several mines of agate especially dendritic agate in Iran and one of the most important and best-quality mines is Qaen Dendritic Mine.