Turkey is renowned for the agates and thundereggs
containing psuedomorphs (calcite and zeolites)
inclusions. Most agates coming from there appear to
be a form of weathered thunderegg cores and seams which
the shells have mostly been eroded away as a result of
exposure to weathering. Some thundereggs have been found
intact out of several meters of clay layers that has been
decomposed from the rhyolitic lava/tuff beds and there are
also some seam agates found nearby.
The zeolites
possibly laumonite sometimes encrusted with calcite have
grown in the thunderegg cavities before being replaced and
preserved by the gentle sequenced growth of agate. The
colors tend to come in white, yellow, light blue, brown,
and black. Occasionally, the agates with red to yellow
colors have been found. Some thundereggs contain
highly contrasting white and black horizontal layers. The
agates tend to be darker inside than what's shown on
weathered surface of the roughs.
Please be aware that black-ish agates
with red hollow centers had been found with rhyolitic
shells and they can be confused (or passed as) with Crater
Agates. It's easy to tell those two apart is that Turkish
agates have rhyoltic shells while Crater Agates from
Argentina do not have.
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Rough Appearance: Rough agate shapes that is lacking
"polygens" structures typical of thundereggs,
Some gray thundereggs have heavily pitted shells.
Needle/blade-like structures may show on exposed faces.
Weathered vein agates, the color of agates usually far
darker than what's on weathered surface.
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