The facts
What plume Agate actually is
The species behind plume Agate is chalcedony (agate), SiO₂; it forms in the cryptocrystalline trigonal system.
Three-dimensional plumes of iron and manganese oxide suspended in translucent chalcedony; colour depends on which oxide dominates 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 plume Agate comes from
Commercial material comes from Graveyard Point, Malheur County, Oregon, USA, Woodward Ranch, Alpine, Texas, USA and Sweetwater, Wyoming, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How plume Agate is treated
Untreated. Value depends entirely on orienting the cut so the plumes float in the stone rather than being sliced flat — a cutter's material.
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 plume Agate is confused with
Watch for Moss agate, Dendritic agate and Flower agate — 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 plume Agate is used for
The trades that buy plume Agate are mineral collecting, jewellery and decorative objects. 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 specimen, by the carat or by the piece.
Durability and care
Plume Agate is 6.5–7 on the Mohs scale, with none cleavage.
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 plume Agate costs
Expect roughly Rough 30–200 USD/kg; well-oriented cabochons 40–300 USD, 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 plume Agate treated, and how?
Untreated. Value depends entirely on orienting the cut so the plumes float in the stone rather than being sliced flat — a cutter's material.
Where does plume Agate come from?
Graveyard Point, Malheur County, Oregon, USA, Woodward Ranch, Alpine, Texas, USA and Sweetwater, Wyoming, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is plume 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 plume Agate cost?
Indicatively Rough 30–200 USD/kg; well-oriented cabochons 40–300 USD. 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 plume Agate confused with?
Most often Moss agate, Dendritic agate and Flower agate. A refractive index of 1.530–1.539 and a specific gravity near 2.58–2.64 separate it quickly.
What is plume Agate used for besides jewellery?
mineral collecting and decorative objects. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for plume 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 plume agate