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Agate can be found almost anywhere on Earth, but is it a valuable rock? Though finding an expensive rock is not always the main motivation of a rockhound, it is important to know whether the agate you found or want to buy has any value and if it does – what does it depend on? Do all types of agate have some value or do certain agates have characteristics that make them better than the rest?
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.
But it’s important to keep in mind that agate prices are subjective and similar agates may have completely different prices on two different websites, depending on the personal preferences of the seller and what they think it is worth. Furthermore, landscape agates are one of the most expensive types of agate even though they are not “real” agates. This goes to show that appearance and opinion play a larger role in its cost than the type of rock.
Are Agates Valuable rocks? The True Worth of AgatesIf you are interested in checking out the tumbled or raw agates you can find them by clicking here (Amazon link). Or if you are looking for tumbling equipment you can find it here (Amazon link).
The majority of average-quality, standard agates are relatively cheap and their price is actually based more on the labor costs and appearance rather than the material, which is often sold by weight.
Usually, the most expensive agates by type are landscape agate and fire agate but crazy lace agate, Lake Superior agate, and agate geodes can be quite expensive.
Nowadays, you can buy a pound of rough agate for just a couple of dollars (if it isn’t a special/rare type). A small 1-2 inch tumbled agate (snakeskin agate, sardonyx, blue lace agate, tree agate, Botswana agate, etc.) will cost approximately $2- $10.
A high-quality Mexican fire agate of the same size may cost over $50 and even reach prices of $1000.
An above-average quality landscape agate (dendritic agate) or moss agate can cost anywhere from $20 to over $200, depending on how appealing the landscape is.
Dendritic and moss agate are actually not real agates since they don’t have bands of color, but they are still sold as agates.
BTW: Do you want to know more about rock and mineral identification? The books listed below are the best ones you can find on the internet (Amazon links):
TIP: Most people have definitely seen agate in their lifetime. But do you know how these beautiful rocks are formed? Find out more in the article below:
What Is Agate And How Do Agates Form? Simple Explanation
As I mentioned above, the price of agate is determined by several factors. The most crucial factors are as follows:
The prices of both rough and tumbled agate depend on its weight. On many sites, you’ll see the weight (written in carats, if it’s not rough agate) next to every agate that they’re selling.
For rough agates the weight and price connection is linear – say 1 pound costs $10, 2 pounds will cost $20, and so on.
But when it comes to high-quality tumbled/polished agates then the weight can increase the price exponentially – so if a 15-carat rare stone costs $50, a 25-carat stone of the same quality might cost $400.
If an agate is clear (e.g. you hold it up to the light and you don’t see black spots or other inclusions) then it’s considered to be of higher quality.
However, this doesn’t apply to dendritic, plume, or moss agates. When it comes to these stones, the inclusions inside them are the source of their beauty – and therefore their price. Without these inclusions, they wouldn’t have landscapes/interesting patterns.
One of the main features of a real agate is its band of colors, so having impressive colors (or a combination of them) immediately increases its price.
Grey, pale and dark colors decrease the price, whereas brilliant red, orange, white and blue increase it. The brightness/intensity of the colors is also very important.
A smooth, round rough agate is worth more than one with uneven/sharp/jagged edges. If it’s an agate that’s been cut specifically for use in jewelry, asymmetrical and professional cuts add to its value.
TIP: Agates look quite dull from the outside. It is when they are cut and polished that their intricate wavy patterns and colors are revealed. Find out more about cutting and polishing agate in the article below:
How to Cut and Polish Agates? Follow These Simple Steps
If an agate isn’t as common as the rest and it can only be extracted from one location or its supply is relatively limited (e.g. fire agate, or the Laguna agate from Ojo Laguna, Chihuahua, Mexico) then this will increase its cost.
Any stone that has interesting bands, patterns, or pictures is automatically valuable and expensive. This feature is often the most decisive one.
There is no such thing as “the most expensive agate”, though dendritic and fire agates are usually worth more than the rest.
However, a standard blue lace agate that has very fine bands and rich color can easily be more expensive than a fire agate of the same size but of lower quality.
TIP: Finding an agate is much more rewarding than just buying one – as any rockhound already knows. Check out the best locations for finding agates in the article below:
Where Can I Find Agate Rocks? Best Places in the US & World
Still did not find the answer to your answers about agate’s value? Find frequently asked questions in the section below:
There are 2 things you should pay attention to – fakes and dyes. Sometimes you might come across a piece of glass that’s being sold as agate. Though this is not a common occurrence as agates aren’t very expensive anyway, you should be careful and buy from a reputable seller/shop.
Dyes are a completely different topic. Many agates that are found in nature have very dull colors that people would never find attractive.
To overcome this problem, agates are often dyed in chemical solutions to enhance their colors. If you see very rich, neon-like greens, reds, or blues then it may very likely be a dyed agate.
Now some people don’t see any problem with this and buy them anyway, but others think that since those aren’t their natural colors, then they aren’t worth buying. In the end, it comes down to personal preference.
Agates are considered semi-precious stones in general, but many people only consider them semi-precious when they are attractive enough (clarity, color, overall quality) to be used in jewelry.
Almost any type of agate can be bought online on sites such as gemrockauctions.com, amazon.com, or etsy.com, though since they are an extremely popular type of rock, you will definitely find them in any crystal/mineral shop – if there are any near you.
TIP: Agate is one of the most widespread semi-precious stones. At the same time, there are a lot of fakes imitating agate. Check out the differences between real and fake agates in the article below:
Real vs. Fake Agate: You Should Know These 7 Differences