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Condor Agate
Condor Agate is silicate (chalcedony), SiO₂. In the hand, it rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and it runs vivid red and orange. Argentine nodule agate with unusually saturated multicolor banding, crisp reds and oranges against smoky violets, often with druzy centers. High desert near San Rafael, Mendoza Province, Argentina, hand-collected since the 1990s.
The geology.
Condor Agate carries the formula SiO₂. It belongs to the trigonal (cryptocrystalline) system. Catalogues list it as silicate (chalcedony).
It sits at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads waxy to vitreous. Light behaviour is translucent. Specific gravity runs 2.58 to 2.64. The streak is white. It breaks with conchoidal fracture.
Argentine nodule agate with unusually saturated multicolor banding, crisp reds and oranges against smoky violets, often with druzy centers.
It reaches buyers as nodules, polished faces, slabs or tumbled.
The origins.
High desert near San Rafael, Mendoza Province, Argentina, hand-collected since the 1990s.
On value, the database notes: mid-range; top-color polished nodules are collector pieces.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, associated with bold self-expression and renewal.
We keep this section because people ask. It sits below the geology on purpose, and none of it describes something the stone does.
Spotting the real thing.
Argentine nodule agate with unusually saturated multicolor banding, crisp reds and oranges against smoky violets, often with druzy centers.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Crazy lace agate | Crazy lace swirls in chaotic loops; condor bands run bold and concentric |
| Dyed agate | Dyed slices are single-color neon; condor mixes natural multicolor banding |
| Patagonia agate | Sibling from the same country, Patagonia material is dustier pastel |
At-home tests.
Before anyone talks you into a lab report, these are the checks worth doing yourself on condor agate.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| Scratch check | Scratches glass |
| By eye | Banding translucent when backlit |
| By eye | No dye in fractures |
Destructive tests belong to a gemologist, not a kitchen table. If a piece matters to you, pay for an appraisal before you take a file to it.
Care & handling.
At 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale it handles careful wear but scratches against quartz and dust. Store it separately and take rings off before rough work.
It breaks with conchoidal fracture, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Clean it by hand, dry it properly, and keep it away from ultrasonic cleaners and hot steam.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is SiO₂. Crystal system: Trigonal (cryptocrystalline). Specific gravity: 2.58 to 2.64. Streak: White. Cleavage and fracture: Conchoidal fracture.
How it reaches the market
High desert near San Rafael, Mendoza Province, Argentina, hand-collected since the 1990s.
What it gets confused with
Crazy lace agate: Crazy lace swirls in chaotic loops; condor bands run bold and concentric. Dyed agate: Dyed slices are single-color neon; condor mixes natural multicolor banding. Patagonia agate: Sibling from the same country, Patagonia material is dustier pastel.
What it is worth
Mid-range; top-color polished nodules are collector pieces.
One more thing
Named for the Andean condors circling the remote mesa where collector Luis de los Santos rediscovered the field in 1993.
An education-first guide.
We do not stock condor agate. Writing it up regardless is the point of a reference library.
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