{"product_id":"deer-creek-fire-agate-rough-cabinet-specimen-with-natural-gem","title":"Deer Creek Fire Agate Rough – Cabinet Specimen with Natural Gem DCR036","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eThis fire agate rough specimen is from the Deer Creek, Arizona. It is an all natural piece of gemstone rough with an exposed fire agate cluster of iridescent chalcedony displaying a natural play of color. The gem formation sits nestled in an area surrounded by portions of white opal and the supporting rhyolite host rock. The flat bottom of the specimen features dark colored manganese oxide dendrite mineral growths which are sometimes found on Deer Creek specimens. This piece could be used either as a display piece or as carving rough. It is suitable for either a mineral enthusiast or a carver looking for Arizona material.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eThe photos shown represent the actual specimen you will receive, photographed both outdoors in natural sunlight and indoors under full spectrum artificial light. The stone is displayed dry as well as wet to simulate a polished appearance for optimal visual display. This stone is a natural rock and is subject to normal flaws as found in nature or the result of the hard rock mining extraction (cracks, chips, etc).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003ePlease note: As seen in the photographs, this specimen has minor flaws such as small chips and natural stress fractures; priced accordingly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cb\u003eSpecimen Physical Dimensions\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eLength: 3 1\/4 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eWidth: 2 3\/4 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eThickness: 1 1\/2 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eWeight: 146.2 grams (5.15 ounces)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cb\u003eMineralogical Features\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eIridescent Fire: In its unpolished state the specimen currently exhibits external flashes of orange and gold with hints of green iridescence. This fiery effect, known as the Schiller effect, is an optical phenomenon caused by light interference.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eColloform\/Botryoidal Morphology: The gem features a classic bubble like (botryoidal) structure characteristic of chalcedony and fire agates.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBrecciated Host Rock: The fire agate gem formation sits beautifully nestled in its original brecciated rhyolite matrix. The fragmented, angular nature of this host rock tells a dramatic story of tectonic and volcanic fracturing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eWhite Opal Accent: Adjacent to the fiery chalcedony lies a pocket of natural white opal, offering a clean color contrast that accentuates the vibrant iridescence of the agate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eBlack Mineral Growths: Adding deep contrast and mineralogical intrigue, the bottom base of the specimen features unique black colored mineral growths, which are likely iron or manganese oxide dendrite mineral growths, that cap off the piece's complex geological zoning.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cb\u003eLapidary \u0026amp; Cutting Potential\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eFor carvers, this specimen offers lapidary potential:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eDistinct Color Horizons: The fiery layers are on the surface, clearly visible and well separated from the matrix, allowing a skilled cutter to carve down into the botryoidal contours to bring out the underlying color layers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eContour Carving Candidate: Due to its prominent bubbly formation this piece is ideal for three dimensional freeform contour carving, preserving the natural anatomy of the chalcedony while maximizing color play.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eCollector Dilemma: While the piece contains gem grade material suitable for gemstone carving, the aesthetic arrangement of the fire agate, opal, matrix and black growths makes it an equally powerful untouched cabinet display piece.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003e\u003cu\u003e\u003cb\u003eGeologic Formation Process\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eFire agate formation is a rare and complex event that occurred approximately 24–36 million years ago during the Tertiary Period.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eVolcanic Rupture \u0026amp; Brecciation: Explosive volcanic activity shattered the surrounding rhyolite, creating highly porous, brecciated open spaces and fluid pathways.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eHydrothermal Injection: Hot, silica rich groundwater saturated with iron oxides (such as goethite and hematite) repeatedly filled these voids.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eCyclic Deposition: As the fluids cooled, alternating microscopic layers of silica and iron oxide were deposited cyclically to build the botryoidal layers. These ultra thin mineral layers act as diffraction gratings. When light enters the stone it hits these layers and refracts, creating the signature spectrum of colors seen by collectors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eOpal \u0026amp; Oxide Phase Changes: Shifts in fluid chemistry and cooling rates led to late stage developments, depositing the clean white opal and the dark black mineral oxides on the base.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\"\u003eCopyright © 2026 Fire Agate US. All Rights Reserved.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fire Agate US","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47558742605973,"sku":"DCR036","price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0736\/9972\/1365\/files\/dcr036a.jpg?v=1783881322","url":"https:\/\/thefireagatestore.com\/products\/deer-creek-fire-agate-rough-cabinet-specimen-with-natural-gem","provider":"The Fire Agate Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}