Agate, Jasper, and Chalcedony: What’s the Difference?

Agate? Jasper? Chalcedony? These three names are common among rock collectors, but do you know the difference? I know that I didn't! So I decided to make a video about it! It has been really fun learning about different rocks and minerals but I often got their names confused. While doing research on these minerals, I learned so much! So come along with me and learn the difference between these three minerals and why they are so cool!
I love learning about geology and these books have really helped! Here are my Amazon Affiliate links below if you'd like to check them out! :)
Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals: amzn.to/3jo3H1h
Minnesota Rocks & Minerals: amzn.to/3lwmeem
Lake Superior Agates: Identify Agates and Imposters!: amzn.to/37eTDlA
In summary, think of quartz at the top of an umbrella category. Chalcedony is a microcrystalline variety of quartz. Agates and jaspers are a form of chalcedony. Hope that helps and happy hunting!
Follow me on TikTok: vm.tiktok.com/ZMdTdS79y/
#thefinders #agates #rockidentification #rockhounding

[@CaptainG23]

Geologist here ; jasper and agate ARE chalcedony.

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you!!

[@jameshicks7125]

This has been very helpful! My parents collected agate but they were all somewhat clear, some very clear with deposits that formed little scenes. Usually pale blue white and cloudy. I had no idea that there were so many kinds. I walk my dog along the river rock beds and today picked up about 10 lbs of jasper, agate, chalcedony and some nice chunks of petrified wood. There is a lot of petrified wood and Jasper among the river rocks. You could spend a day picking through a few square meters and gather 10s of pounds of nice pieces.

[@Ali_OT7]

I was never a huge fan of agates until recently, when I acquired a flower agate palmstone with lots of druzy. Now I am totally in love 🥰 !

[@AgateAriel]

Oh wow that sounds beautiful! Agates are so awesome!

[@debjohansen7867]

I appreciated the clarifications and similarities you mentioned. It really helped. Thank you for listing and going through the books, the resources, you use. Will be taking a look, thanks again!

[@AgateAriel]

Of course! Glad I could help! 😊

[@cathie4668]

Thank you so much for taking the time to speak about the difference between the stones. I appreciate your help very much.

[@AgateAriel]

Of course! Glad you liked the video 😊

[@apachisa25]

Thanks for introducing the very basic things about rocks to identify them . I have so many confusions regarding their identification, now you made it so clear , great video 😊

[@RobsNeighbor]

Awesome video with TONS of value for a newbie, so informative well-produced thank you!

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you!! I’m glad it was helpful! ☺️

[@raygay3375]

Thanks for going through these categorational challenges. I am just beginning my journey into true rock hounding, and I’m glad to see that one of the books I am planning to get is on your list. Take care, have fun, and always stay safe. ⛏️⚒️

[@Kris10Ortego]

Superb! Great quick tips. Will rewatch w my flashlight! Glad to find this handy and informative vid. You're Greattt at this KZbin info. Perfect flow- not slow and boring monotone; glad to find another agate girl!!

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you for the compliment! You are too kind!

[@CityRockhounding]

Wow, this video is so very helpful. I saved this one. Great information, love those books. Thanks for sharing an example of each rock, that really makes it easier. My daughter said your work is amazing! Awesome rocks by the way!

[@AgateAriel]

Awesome so glad you and your daughter liked the video! 😊

[@CarolBlaneyPhD]

This video will surely help me in my rock hunting along riverbeds etc. Thsnks so much!!

[@AgateAriel]

Absolutely! Glad I could help! 😊

[@davidhile5363]

Thank you for the detailed explanation. Now if I could only figure out how to identify Jasper from other common rocks. Great video !!!

[@AgateAriel]

I can definitely put it on the list! Jasper is a fun one too! 😊

[@annabanaz9049]

Brilliant, thank you, I needed some clarity about this.

[@AgateAriel]

Of course-glad I could help!

[@michaeltrudell9356]

Keep growing the channel. You're a big help to me. I've even told some people about you.😎

[@AgateAriel]

I appreciate that! Thank you! 😊

[@ghostriderwashere]

Good vid. I just got started in the hobby. Have a huge piece of rock that I found on my farm that was just tan. After years of sitting outside by the porch I just realized it was not an ordinary rock. Lol think it’s a huge piece of chalcedony. Honey colored if you shine light through it. And this thing is HEAVY!! Thanks for the tip on the flashlight.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh that is so cool! What a gorgeous piece!!

[@debrafrankian4077]

I know this is a older video but it was so helpful. Thank you for the great videos you put out.

[@vahagnmelikyan2906]

Interesting. So I found rocks like this in Las Vegas dry washes. Both jasper and agate i wasn't aware, but they looked pretty. So that's why the store employee from gold shop was asking where i found these rocks from.

[@GrandTreasureBay]

This has been incredibly helpful! I live in northern Michigan and I rarely find agates, but come across jasper and chalcedony a good deal more often. My partner has a huge chunk of chalcedony from New York and now we know it's Chalcedony because light passes through it. The only agate we have is one we found in Northwestern Lower Michigan in Leland. It's the size of a Lima bean and oddly enough it's a textbook example of a Lake Superior agate!

[@AgateAriel]

I’m so glad the video was helpful! How interesting about the agate! Very cool!!

[@2degucitas]

I have found a LOT of agates on the upper west coast of Michigan, before you get to the U.P. Try looking there.

[@jadedmonk7001]

Super fun and informative. Thank you❤

[@davidscissorhands]

Omg thank you SO much for this! I live in North East Ohio and I find tons of agates, chalcedony and especially jaspers where I am specifically. Great video!

[@AgateAriel]

Oh that is awesome! These are definitely my top 3 favorite stones!

[@didimitten]

Really helpful. Glad you compared the quartz as I was unsure how I would tell the difference.

[@AgateAriel]

Glad I could help! 😊

[@AgateDad]

Great video and info!

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@jayballard9944]

Extremely helpful!! Thank you!!

[@AgateAriel]

I’m glad I could help! 😊

[@cuba.]

Easy and simple ! Thank you

[@AgateAriel]

Of course!

[@DRMLbyJeffrey]

Awesome Video. Thank you from Northern California. And yes every state has Geological books for each state. Smithsonian books are cool also.

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! Greetings from Minnesota! 😊

[@dennisjames1719]

Thank you so much for this video. Great info. I’m new to rock tumbling/rock hounding and this really helps. I’m having trouble finding a book on identifying rocks and minerals in Alabama, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to seeing your videos each week. Keep up the great work. Thanks again.

[@AgateAriel]

There are great rocks and mineral books for each state! If you type your state into Amazon and rocks and minerals book you should be able to find one!

[@avikchakraborty7212]

Thanks, great explanation 👍👍

[@AgateAriel]

Of course! 😊

[@paxmundi3583]

Very helpful. Thank you!

[@AgateAriel]

Glad I could help! 😊

[@hockeyrace]

Thanks for the info. Also, I appreciate the peak inside the books. I’ve been wondering whether or not to get one you showed. Now for sure I’m getting it. You did a really nice job. The other I struggle with is banded chert. So many rocks with similarities 🤪. I’m in WI. I see all of these, all the time. I’ve got sooo much chalcedony in my possession atm 😆. Thanks for the 🎥. Stay Crystal 💫

[@AgateAriel]

I’m glad you liked the video! I also linked the books in the description box if you want to buy it from Amazon! They have both been really helpful to me so far! Banded chert totally gets me too!! It’s definitely gets easier as you learn more! 😊

[@zerocrutch]

Big help. Thanks!

[@AgateAriel]

Of course! 😊

[@ibkristykat]

Best explanation yet!!!

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! 😊

[@vickieowens1499]

Thank you very helpful❤️🙏

[@clentonweston8839]

Wow! I see one could really get the agates and calcedney mixed up. This was great to see. Also, I would love to order those books. Thanks.

[@AgateAriel]

Yes they definitely can get confusing! The book definitely help!

[@johnschade90]

Awesome video

[@growingtreecreations2900]

This was very helpful! The river near my house has a huge variety of stone types on the gravel bars. Many are very well worn but occasionally ill find fossils with excellent details. I previously only knew for sure that there's quartz, fossils, fossil geodes, slate & a bunch I couldn't identify. Thanks to your video, I now know there is also jasper, agate & maybe chalcedony.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh that is so awesome-I’m glad I could help! 😊

[@marcwinkler]

@@AgateAriel Look for radiolaires (amazing creatures) and radiolarite jasper!

[@AgateAriel]

I’ve never heard of those before! I will definitely have to learn more about them!

[@lisawing5564]

Thank you very very helpful!

[@AgateAriel]

I’m glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching! 😊

[@Mike-br8vb]

Thanks for the info. Just learning as I've found many different agates, and It's hard to identify as a newb.

[@KodyKline]

Great video. I collect a lot of Utah agate, chalcedony and Jasper...sometimes there is a mixture of agate, some chalcedony and even jasper in some stones there in Utah and normally minimal banding in Utah agate...lots of moss, pigeon blood, clear agate with jasper etc...Enjoyed your Minnesota perspective and I have the same books. Rock on Agate Ariel!!!

[@AgateAriel]

It’s so cool how different agates can be in different places! Also yes I love those books! They have helped me so much with identification. Thanks for watching 😊

[@nastajalightchild6438]

Sure did! Thanks

[@troylarsen2454]

There is one specific type of paint agate that is found only in Minnesota. Paradise Beach agates. While they are a painted agate, their colors are more vibrant, and tend to have rare color combos. Also wanted to point out that chert, jasper, agates are all forms of chalcedony. Its an umbrella term that covers several rocks. Chalcedony on its own, shares a lot of features with an agate, but has no bands, and is duller in color.

[@Tdub0911]

Honestly I a not making fun of you or being a troll. Man, KZbin has everything, even frickin rocks.

[@mrmosty5167]

So I recently got that guide for New York. I'm on Long Island and do most of my hounding on beaches. I have a metric ton of quartzite, which I roughly calculated makes up about 30% of the rock types here (those you can easily pick up that is). I know for a fact I have one good chunk of red jasper and maybe smaller ones that need another look. I also have a few chert but nothing that I could say is chalcedony or agate for sure

[@AgateAriel]

That’s awesome! Glad this video could help!

[@Aventuranaterradapedrapreciosa]

These books are very interesting..you can learn a lot about minerals.

[@AgateAriel]

Absolutely!!

[@rmt3589]

Could you do a video about what causes the different colors in these stones?

[@AgateAriel]

I will add it to my list! Great idea!

[@rmt3589]

@@AgateAriel My pleasure! I'll make sure to subscribe so I see it!

[@mamacass8970]

Awesome 💜

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! 😊

[@IceElias]

Thanks 👌🏻

[@AgateAriel]

Of course!

[@pinkyxyz123]

I am trying to find the rocks and minerals book for my state (NC) but can’t seem to find it! What should I do?

[@tesshasselkus8812]

informative thank you

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you so much! 😊

[@Badr_agate_kech]

Thank you for these videos and good luck, do you have any picture stones

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! Do you mean pictures of the stones?

[@Badr_agate_kech]

What is the price, I have many of them in Morocco and they are beautiful and large shapes.

[@AgateAriel]

@@Badr_agate_kech you can check out the links in my description and it will tell you prices for the books! 😊

[@geoffgeoff143]

Agate is varigated chalcedony, usually banded. Jasper is a concretion. Chert with clay inclusions. Chalcedony is a cryptocrystaline quartz, vwry similar to chert. Chert is usua..y, but not always, formed in maeine environments. When it forms as nodules in chalk deposits, it is called flint. A better book for you to read would be Terry Moxan's.

[@AgateAriel]

I will have to check that out! Thank you!

[@tesourosdanatureza623]

Amazing ❤️💎✌️🤠

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you Nova!

[@shelleyhoist3503]

I have a piece I'm not sure if it's jasper or carnelian or agate! I'm leaning towards jasper because lit does have some banding and light only shines through the edges where there appears to other minerals. May I send you a picture of it??

[@AgateAriel]

You can send it to me on instagram and I can let you know! 😊

[@therealgingerbeardman]

Oh wow!! That accent is SO awesome!!! I’m currently obsessed with finding “cool rocks”. Unfortunately around here if you’re seen sifting around in the dirt looking for rocks, the police will receive this as “meth head activity”, and you’ll be thoroughly searched.

[@AgateAriel]

Oh jeez! That’s a bummer!

[@tranqulitytoo]

Great video.. can you do a video on The difference between agate and carnelian? I know they are similar but would love to know more about these two stones.. I make a charka pendent and received agate and thought it was carnelian did some research and found the light bands on the red agate. But still unclear on the real differences.. thank you for this video..much love light and blessings

[@AgateAriel]

Thanks so much for watching! Yes I will add it to my ideas list! They are very similar so I think a video would definitely help!

[@tranqulitytoo]

@@AgateAriel thank you. That will be awesome I love your videos they're great for what I'm doing.. much gratitude 🙏

[@tranqulitytoo]

@@AgateAriel thank you. That will be awesome I love your videos they're great for what I'm doing.. much gratitude 🙏

[@AgateAriel]

Of course! Glad I could help! 😊

[@lesleybalecke6052]

I have some crystals that my rock identifier is saying is chalcedony but I'm not convinced. Can you please help me

[@AgateAriel]

Sure! Send me some pics! My email is linked in my profile 😊

[@mr0kills376]

I liked your video and learned some things. I was vibing that one or two of your pieces of chalcedony were actually carnelian. Is that possible?

[@AgateAriel]

That could be! Carnelian is just another version of chalcedony so I wouldn’t doubt it!

[@mr0kills376]

@@AgateAriel I didn’t know that it was just a subcategory of chalcedony, thanks! 😊

[@mahdimahamed1050]

I have a big junk of jasper stones where can I get those book please

[@AgateAriel]

Check my link in the video description-under Amazon!

[@fusiongxge5105]

Can you find agate and jasper where you find chert?

[@AgateAriel]

You definitely can!

[@gabrielnavakuku6166]

Roger. Lol ignore my last comment of book recommendations on your most recent post. if you can see this in order. Lol

[@AgateAriel]

Haha no worries at all! Glad you got to see some in this video! 😊

[@Badr_agate_kech]

I want to get this book rocks minerals

[@AgateAriel]

Yes it’s a really good one! 😊

[@Badr_agate_kech]

We want new videos, how to cut and shape stones

[@AgateAriel]

@@Badr_agate_kech absolutely! I will add it to my list! 😊

[@Lara-rs3tm]

Oh, I’ve been saying chalcedony VERY wrong 😂

[@AgateAriel]

I was to at first-no worries 🤣

[@gregorycarter8786]

What is Carnelian agate??

[@agezi369]

綺麗な瑪瑙、カルセドニー、ジャスパー😊

[@wilbondcajunrockhound5758]

good info thats a lot of agates , but you forgot the crowleys lol

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! What do you mean the crowleys?

[@wilbondcajunrockhound5758]

It’s the only agates we have down here in New Orleans , Crowley ridge agates, if you want a few let me know

[@AgateAriel]

@@wilbondcajunrockhound5758 just looked them up! That’s so cool that there are agates in New Orleans!

[@wilbondcajunrockhound5758]

@@AgateAriel yea on the north shore rivers about a hour from my house , they came down in the mississippi gravel flow many thousand of years ago

[@AgateAriel]

That is awesome!

[@mrfxm55]

Carry a knife it has a hardness of 5 on the mohs hardness scale quartz goes hardness 6 to 6.5 if your knife can't scratch it then it's likely quartz or something better.

[@mrfxm55]

Follow that premise to help you identify rocks hardness is key.

[@mrfxm55]

Also remember that quartz is 86% of the Earth's crust. That is the greatest variety of rock types on Earth. This diversity of material not all varieties to this day have been identified yet.

[@AgateAriel]

That’s a really good idea! I will definitely start doing that. That is super interesting that they haven’t all been discovered yet, I never knew that!

[@bigDbigDbigD]

Moss gates don’t have lines. Are they still agates?

[@AgateAriel]

Yes they are! I should have clarified that!

[@raymondfink9580]

Jasper, agates, quartz, they are all chalcedony, the difference is how the crystal there made of, lines up. But the same still.

[@mawest4775]

Not all agates are banded, so that is not a good way to identify all agates. Moss agate, for example is not banded.

[@AgateAriel]

Yes that is a good point! Banded or banded like structures may be a better way of putting it 🤔

[@KDAirman]

Are these stones any money worth 🤔

[@AgateAriel]

To the right person, definitely!

[@jeovaniealicos5088]

I have a agates more than 150 kilos

[@gemsstonelangkat1484]

halo ,,,

[@AgateAriel]

Hello!

[@markrossi5721]

Yes! I would be very interested in learning more about rock identification while looking at your adorable face!

[@nazh7279]

I have a rock that you might be able to identify would you be able to look at it for me?

[@jakejakon5102]

Thanks a lot I wanna ask you please do you have whatssp I wanna send you Pic of some stone I am sure this is from the moon?

[@AgateAriel]

You can send it on my instagram!

[@ForestBasenji]

So *that's* how you pronounce chalcedony? 🤣🤣 oops, I've been pronouncing it wrong for a while now!! only ever read the word, guess I never heard it said out loud 🤣🤣 Good thing the only person who ever heard me mispronounce it is my husband and he isn't really a rock guy 🤣🤣

[@AgateAriel]

Haha no worries-I still say it wrong sometimes!

[@maryarneson5815]

NOT ALL AGATES HAVE BANDING!!!!! Stop spreading false information. You've only touched on Lake superior agates. Not ALL agates. Just stop.