Raw Stones
271 pieces
Tumbled Stones
202 pieces
Palm Stones
37 pieces
Crystal Points
38 pieces
Clusters & Geodes
63 pieces
Polished & Decor
125 pieces
Mineral Specimens
70 collector pieces
Crystal Chips
22 pieces
Browse everything
Every collection, one page.
View All Collections →
Aries
Mar 21 – Apr 19
Carnelian
›
Taurus
Apr 20 – May 20
Rose Quartz
›
Gemini
May 21 – Jun 20
Agate
›
Cancer
Jun 21 – Jul 22
Moonstone
›
Leo
Jul 23 – Aug 22
Citrine
›
Virgo
Aug 23 – Sep 22
Amazonite
›
Libra
Sep 23 – Oct 22
Blue Lace Agate
›
Scorpio
Oct 23 – Nov 21
Obsidian
›
Sagittarius
Nov 22 – Dec 21
Sodalite
›
Capricorn
Dec 22 – Jan 19
Black Tourmaline
›
Aquarius
Jan 20 – Feb 18
Amethyst
›
Pisces
Feb 19 – Mar 20
Aquamarine
›
Gifting?
A birthday stone is the safe bet.
Read the zodiac guide →
Gobi Agate
Gobi Agate is silicate (chalcedony), SiO₂. In the hand, it rates 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and it runs caramel and red-brown. Small desert-polished agate pebbles with satiny wind-buffed skins and raised bullseye 'eyes', nature pre-tumbled them for ten thousand years. Deflation surfaces of the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia (China) and Mongolia.
The geology.
Gobi Agate carries the formula SiO₂. It belongs to the trigonal (cryptocrystalline) system. It is classified as silicate (chalcedony).
It sits at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads waxy, wind-polished satin. Light behaviour is translucent to opaque. Specific gravity runs 2.58 to 2.64. The streak is white. It breaks with conchoidal fracture.
Small desert-polished agate pebbles with satiny wind-buffed skins and raised bullseye 'eyes', nature pre-tumbled them for ten thousand years.
You will most often meet it as wind-polished pebbles, eye agates or collector cabinets of small forms.
The origins.
Deflation surfaces of the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia (China) and Mongolia.
On value, the database notes: mid-range; fine multi-eye pebbles are collector favorites.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, associated with patience and weathering long seasons gracefully.
People buy on this language, so it belongs on the page. It belongs under the facts, though, not over them.
Spotting the real thing.
Small desert-polished agate pebbles with satiny wind-buffed skins and raised bullseye 'eyes', nature pre-tumbled them for ten thousand years.
Machine-polished agates are sold as 'Gobi' online, the satin patina and raised eyes are difficult to counterfeit.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Tumbled agate (machine) | Machine tumbles are glassy-bright; Gobi skins have a soft satin patina with micro-dimples |
| Botswana agate | Botswana shows fine parallel banding; Gobi eyes are raised concentric domes |
| Resin copies | Warm, light, identical 'twins' from molds |
At-home tests.
You can run every one of these at a kitchen table. Good light matters more than gear when you are looking at gobi agate.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Satin wind-polish patina |
| By eye | Raised eye rings stand slightly proud of the surface |
| Scratch check | Scratches glass like all agate |
Stop short of anything that leaves a mark. A gemologist can answer the rest without damaging the stone.
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.
Skip the ultrasonic. Lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth handle routine cleaning without risk.
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
Deflation surfaces of the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia (China) and Mongolia.
What it gets confused with
Tumbled agate (machine): Machine tumbles are glassy-bright; Gobi skins have a soft satin patina with micro-dimples. Botswana agate: Botswana shows fine parallel banding; Gobi eyes are raised concentric domes. Resin copies: Warm, light, identical 'twins' from molds.
What it is worth
Mid-range; fine multi-eye pebbles are collector favorites.
Where buyers get caught
Machine-polished agates are sold as 'Gobi' online, the satin patina and raised eyes are difficult to counterfeit.
One more thing
Gobi winds sandblasted these agates for millennia, collectors pay premiums for polish no machine applied.
An education-first guide.
We do not carry gobi agate. This page exists because the question comes up and the honest answer is worth writing down, whether or not there is anything here to sell you.
Explore the Crystal Guide