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AGATE BOTSWANA
Tumbled Stone Collection

Botswana, a magnificent country in Southern Africa, is home to some of the most beautiful agates in the world. This collection contains the most popular types of Botswana agates, which are sought after for their unique markings and wonderful colour contrasts.

In the collection, you will find 9 tumbled Botswana agates of the following types:

Characteristics

Botswana agates are popular for their fine banding, distinctive structure, and rich colour range. Their characteristic stripes, unique markings, and striking contrasts create fantastic patterns that are the pride of every collector. This collection is an example of the typical agates you can find in Botswana. The first three stones represent typical contrasting grey agates with white banding on a dark background. Grey agates with noticeable banding are the most sought after among collectors and jewelers. Their impressive markings stand out contrastingly against the dark background. The second row of stones offers the delicate pastel colours of pink agates - these stand out in shades ranging from white, brown, and apricot to light pink and violet. In the bottom row, you will find various types of carnelian, agates rich in iron oxides, including an attractive variant with white banding. Carnelians from Botswana boast a vibrant red-orange colour. These semi-translucent stones with a waxy luster enjoy great popularity worldwide, especially the deep orange variants with distinctive white banding, which are a true Botswana rarity.

Origin

Botswana agates formed 190–200 million years ago during volcanic activity. As lava cooled, gas bubbles created cavities, which were then filled with water rich in silica and other minerals. The gradual layering of these minerals created the characteristic banding of the agates. The final colors and patterns were influenced by the chemical composition, temperature, and pressure.

Occurrence

The main deposits of Botswana agates are located in the area around the town of Bobonong, near the border with Zimbabwe. Agates can be found in their original rock, weathered freely on the surface, or in riverbeds.

Types of Botswana Agates

Banded Grey Agate

The following photographs capture four typical examples of the most sought-after Botswana agates. The white bands on them strikingly contrast with the grey-brown chalcedony, creating concentric layers, often in combination with quartz.

Pink Botswana Agate

Pink agates from Botswana are famous for their magnificent pastel colours, which transition from pink through grey to white shades. Some stones have bizarre formations on their surface that resemble abstract works of art.

Carnelian

The photo shows a typical example of carnelian from the Botswana locality.

Banded Carnelian

Some carnelians acquired white banding during their formation due to a change in geochemical conditions during the solidification of the chalcedony mass.