Comparing Gemstones: Agate vs. Jasper

Many people, who want their diamond engagement rings to be unique tend to seek out other gems to pursue. If you are of a similar mindset, Agate and Jasper are two popular and affordable choices you can try out. Some find these hard to tell apart though, and there the following information can help.

The main thing differentiating the two stones is that Agate is see-through when there is light coming in from behind it, much like a jewelry diamond, while Jasper is not. If you delve further into the details, you realize there is more to this that needs to be understood. Both gems are made of Quartz, which is very commonly available in nature. Agate and Jasper fall under Chalcedony, which is a cryptocrystalline quartz variety.

Concentrically banded chalcedony is called Agate, and sometimes, the banding is even larger than the crystal itself. Jasper, meanwhile, is an opaque stone that can occur banded or striated. Agate is most commonly seen to be yellow, red, brown, or green in color, whereas Jasper is capable of carrying virtually any color, because of its high mineral content. It is formed partly as an effect of hydrothermal circulation, which is a prerequisite for its creation.