West Virginia Agate

     Gem quality agate from West Virginia is rare. In fact, any agate from West Virginia is rare. We know of it only in one location in the state, where there seems to be a band of agate about a half mile wide by maybe ten miles long. We find geodes and nodules by streams and around farmers fields. We have found some amethyst (lavender color) and some yellow and red areas of agate, however for the most part WV Agate is whites, browns and grays. Some nice banding exists mixing colors and opaque and translucent stripes. Good pieces of WV Agate are very hard and take a real nice polish.