Agate - Baranowski Glacier King George Island Antarctica

Dynamic Agate from Baranowski Glacier

This beautiful agate came from the Baranowski Glacier, located on the west shore of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. It is a mixture of white, tan, black, and rose colors. It was collected by a Polish Expedition.

Composition of Agates

Agates are primarily composed of chalcedony, a microcrystalline variety of quartz (SiO₂). Since quartz is a mineral, agate is mineralogically classified as a variety of quartz. While agates are made of the mineral quartz, they are usually referred to as a cryptocrystalline silica rock. A rock is typically defined as an aggregate of minerals, and agates fit this definition due to their layered composition of chalcedony, quartz, and sometimes opal or other inclusions.

Agate Details and What is Included

• Size: 95mm L × 75mm W × 4mm D, polished front and back. Sizing cube and display stand are not included.
• Ships with:
  • Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
  • Tag and tag stand
  • Information about agates and the volcanology in Antarctica
  • Legally procured. From an old scientific collection.

The Volcanic Legacy of Antarctica

Antarctica’s geology is diverse. Many parts of the continent are composed of ancient metamorphic and igneous rocks, and there are also regions with significant volcanic history.

While not as commonly reported as agates from places like Brazil or the U.S., Antarctic agates have been documented in certain volcanic regions and glacial deposits.

Volcanism is a fundamental driver of agate formation because it provides the materials, space, and conditions necessary for their creation. The interplay of cooling lava, gas bubbles, silica-rich solutions, and mineral impurities makes volcanic environments important geological settings for the production of agates.

The bottom microscopy image shows particles containing magmatic spherules, magnetite, andesite, basalt, and mudstone which are covered with sulfur. The infilled silica is opal and chalcedony. About 2.5 Ma, with the onset of glaciation, the agate was buried under ice. Only within the last few years was this Baranowski glacier-covered agate exposed.

Great Geology for Classroom or Geology Collection

This is a unique opportunity to buy a polished agate from Antarctica. Learn about the volcanic history of Antarctica with this great specimen today.