Dwarves' Earth Treasures Museum: Neuquen Agates
North of Neuquen Province, Patagonia, Argentina, South
America
.
Like the Puma agates, Neuquen Agates
appear to be a type of concretion that were formed from water-expanded
(or gypsum-expanded) fossil crinoid heads very similar to Indiana "Geodes",
Kentucky & Alabama Agates. Neuquen agates appeared to be more weathered
(rough surface feel smoother), and more varied in color such as white,
gray, red, yellow, brown, and blue. Pink and black are rare colors while
red, gray and brown colors are more common.The interesting characteristic
of some Neuquen agates is that they contain multiple fractures that have
been "healed" and bleached by water giving them a chambered look.
Important
Note! Often because of their similar appearances,
the agates from Neuquen had been mislabeled as "Puma" Agates even the source
of Neuquen agates is about 250 kilometers from where the Puma Agates are
found (Marlargue). The differences are that the Neuquen Agate have wider
vareity of colors and containt the quartz crystals that tend to take up
more space than those of Puma Agates. The "Samtra" Agates may be actually
Neuquen Agates coming fron Neuquen Province, not Mendoza Province.
