The facts
What moss Agate actually is
The species behind moss Agate is chalcedony, SiO₂ + chlorite/hornblende inclusions; it forms in the trigonal (cryptocrystalline) system.
Translucent colourless host with green dendritic or filamentary inclusions of chlorite or amphibole is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.530–1.539 and a specific gravity of about 2.58–2.64, with none cleavage.
Where moss Agate comes from
Commercial material comes from Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Madhya Pradesh, India, Montana, USA and Mocha, Yemen (historical).
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How moss Agate is treated
Untreated in good material; the inclusions are the product. Dyed green 'moss agate' exists and looks flatly uniform rather than dendritic.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What moss Agate is confused with
Watch for Dendritic agate, Lodolite, Plume agate and Dyed chalcedony — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.530–1.539 and specific gravity 2.58–2.64 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What moss Agate is used for
The trades that buy moss Agate are jewellery, carving and sculpture, decorative objects, architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat, by the block or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 6.5–7; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What moss Agate costs
Expect roughly $0.50–15/ct, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is moss Agate treated, and how?
Untreated in good material; the inclusions are the product. Dyed green 'moss agate' exists and looks flatly uniform rather than dendritic.
Where does moss Agate come from?
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Madhya Pradesh, India, Montana, USA and Mocha, Yemen (historical). Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is moss Agate hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does moss Agate cost?
Indicatively $0.50–15/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is moss Agate confused with?
Most often Dendritic agate, Lodolite, Plume agate and Dyed chalcedony. A refractive index of 1.530–1.539 and a specific gravity near 2.58–2.64 separate it quickly.
What is moss Agate used for besides jewellery?
carving and sculpture, decorative objects, architecture and interiors and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for moss agate?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about moss agate