Saturday's Gem - Root Beer Agate

Root Beef Agate like Carnelian is also a microcrystalline from the quartz group.  You will find that many of the semi precious stones used in making jewelry will come from a few main groups but the variations in coloring and inclusions are what will make them strikingly different.  Just like any agate Root Beer Agate is usually translucent - opaque and has variation in colors from a lighter brown to darker brown.  Agate is slowly formed from silica-rich precipitate (liquid) filling a cavity in different host rocks, a common host is lava.  The silica liquid eventually starts to settle and form the microcrystals creating layers until it is either filled (a Nodule) or filled partway leaving a hollow center often with larger crystals like quartz inside (a Geode.) This process is very different than the violent and often fast process that makes volcanic glass like obsidian. The reason it is called Root Beer Agate is because of this color, it looks like Root Beer. 

Often the name of the Agate will simply describe the piece;  Banded Agate has bands, and Lace Agate has a lacy pattern, but sometimes Agates are named after the areas on which they are found such as Mule Canyon etc.  Root Beer Agate can be found throughout the US it just depends on what elements were available while the agate was forming causing its Root Beer brown coloring.  I found mine on Central California beach.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97831707/beach-washed-root-beer-agate-beachcomber

http://www.etsy.com/listing/97831878/beach-washed-root-beer-agate-beachcomber?ref=v1_other_1

Of course I truly love the the pretty formations themselves but the beads, jewelry and art that are made from Root Beer Agate is truly spectacular.  Here are a few examples that can be found on ETSY.

'Saturday's Gem - Root Beer Agate' by ButterflyInTheAttic2

Often Agates are named for a characteristic or location. Root Beer Agate is that simple; it is the color of root beer. I will take mine as a float.

Chunky Pendant Beaded Choker... daisymadedesig... $59.00	White Line Brown Agate and S... CountenanceJew... $31.00	RootBeer Agate Rectangle Bea... bm1coastsbeadw... $30.00	SALE VINTAGE Brazilian Agate... AuntSuesVintag... $21.99
10% OFF SALE. Rootbeer color... DesignsbyShirl $21.00	Rootbeer Float - Black and C... moagsandsmeet $32.00	Brazilian agate earrings solcreations47 $15.00	Rootbeer Float Mens Gradient... tinymishaps $46.50
Fire Agate and Sterling Silv... AstrasShadow $94.00	Baby Rootbeer Drusy Agate Fr... TuulaGems $9.75	ON SALE Root Beer Float Geod... CRAFTERBYHEART $42.00	SHOP25 at checkout Root Beer... TheSpiritedJew... $20.00
Multi Chain & Agate Slice Pe... CamanoIslandVi... $26.50	Vintage Sarah Coventry Rootb... RoseCottageVin... $32.00	Bi color Agate Drusy Oval D... lapicarey $50.00	Rootbeer Float - A Reversabl... WireWrapper $34.95

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio