Dwarves' Earth Treasures Online Rock Shop: Botswana Agates
Bobanong, Botswana, Africa
.
Botswana Agates are commonly a favorite of
the collectors because of their sharp constrasting white, gray and black
bands as well as their shadowy effects. White, black and gray are the most
common colors, but they can include the colors of lavendar, orange, purple,
red and yellow. Orange and yellow colors are somewhat rare. There are some
more pink to white agates as result of weathering ("bleaching"). They commonly
come in small sizes (an once to half-pound), but I had heard of large ones
being found. The agates in Botswana were said to had been mined in
great quantities in 1970s, but now because of Botswana's recent independance
(and political problems?), the embargo had been placed on all raw material
exports. Only processed materials (beads, tumble-polished, cabs, etc.)
can be exported.
