Certainly, there are some confusion
concerning the partially opalized agates coming from Sidi
Rahai. They had been called as "GreenSkins", "Beber",
"Ansi" and "Ansi-Beber" and all agates are similar in
appearance as coming from several locations along the same
large basalt beds. The area is mined
mainly for amethyst geodes with unusual structures within
and the solid
nodules (agates) tend to be ignored until recently. The
agates often contain red stalacitic structures with
irregular gray bandings extending
to one side called "Liesegang Bands". Red, lavender, white
and gray are
the typical colors, and some nodules are known to contain
some needle-like
geothite inclusions, pseudomorphs and sagenite inclusions.
The reason why I think that they're partially opalized is
due to how they react to being grinded and polished for
opalized agates/petrified woods tend to be more fragile.
John Zenz's Agates
and Dietrich Mayer's Exquisite Agates
books have some info on Moroccan agates.
YOU CAN CLICK ON
THE PICTURES TO
SEE LARGER PICTURES
Rough Appearance: Green-skinned, orange-skinned
(weathered), red-rimmed pink to white agate exposed is a
giveway
Agates tend to start with red to pink bands before
changing to clear
bands, commonly with pseudomorph inclusions.
