This all natural piece of fire agate rough measures 30 x 21 x 9 mm, weighs 51 carats, and has a multi-color fire showing orange, red and green colors.
This fire agate, locally referred to as Ágata de Fuego, comes from Aguascalientes, Mexico, a region esteemed for its production of exceptional fire agates. These stones are highly regarded for their vibrant color displays and intricate mixed color variations that capture the natural beauty unique to this locale. This natural specimen offers collectors and connoisseurs a captivating example of the complex patterns and fiery iridescence that make Aguascalientes fire agates prized among gemstone enthusiasts. Its origin and distinct visual qualities emphasize its value both as a specimen and as exceptional lapidary material for gemstone cutting.
The photographs and videos shown highlight the stone’s fiery brilliance under both artificial full spectrum indoor lighting and outdoors in natural sunlight, shown both dry and wet to simulate a polish, to best reveal its internal fire layers. The colors within fire agates arise from the Schiller effect, like what is seen in mother-of-pearl and opals. This phenomenon results from alternating layers of silica and iron oxide that diffract light, creating the interference patterns known as fire. Optimal lighting enhances this color play, while in dimmer conditions the fire agates will appear less vivid and appear darker with a brownish hue.
This gemstone is a natural stone and may exhibit typical imperfections inherent to its formation or arising from the rigors of the hard rock mining extraction process.
Aguascalientes Mexico is known for producing high quality fire agate gemstones, celebrated for their mesmerizing play of color and intricate internal banding. The fire agate rough from Aguascalientes is a treasure trove of fire agate beauty for collectors and carvers which prize this locality for its rough specimens.
Mexican fire agate rough often features these traits: Bright surface layers of multi-colored fire banding, creating dynamic flashes of red, orange, green, purple, and even electric blue. Some pieces from this area have a very dark colored chalcedony (the La Negrita mine in El Terrero de la Labor, Aguascalientes, Mexico) which provides a striking contrast from the colorful fire layers and can enhance the carving potential. These natural features make Aguascalientes fire agate rough ideal for lapidary artists, who seek material that allows for high contrast gemstones, which help reveal the stone’s full spectrum of fiery brilliance.
