E425/0838 Rights Managed
Credit: DIRK WIERSMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Caption: Agate surface. Cut and polished agate surface with colourful patterns formed from mineral impurities that were trapped as the agate formed. Agate is silica (silicon dioxide) that precipitated from liquid inside existing rock. These successive layers of precipitation are seen as the deposited silica fills hollows in the rock. The patterns are revealed by erosion or cutting the rock open, and pieces of agate are prized as ornaments. The tree- like (dendritic) patterns are only 7 millimetres tall. They are most likely formed from manganese oxide or iron oxide. The edge of the agate is seen across bottom.
Release details: Model release not required. Property release not required.
Keywords: agate, chalcedony, cut, dendrites, dendritic, earth science, geological, geology, mineral, moss, pattern, patterned, patterns, polished, rock, rocks, section, sectioned, semi-precious, silica, silicon dioxide, stone, surface, tree, trees
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