Condor agate

Condor agate is a variety of agate found in the mountains near San Rafael, in Mendoza Province, Argentina.^[3] It was discovered and named by Luis de los Santos in 1993.^{[citation needed]} Condor agate often exhibits brightly contrasted bands of red and yellow and may have inclusions of moss or sagenite.^[4] It has become a popular stone among collectors and jewelry designers.

Condor agate
A cut and polished piece of condor agate
General
Category	Tectosilicate minerals, quartz group, chalcedony variety, agate variety
Formula	SiO2 (silicon dioxide)
Crystal system	Trigonal (quartz) or monoclinic (moganite)
Identification
Color	Red, yellow, orange, pink, gray, blue
Crystal habit	Cryptocrystalline silica
Cleavage	None
Fracture	Conchoidal, subconchoidal
Tenacity	Brittle
Mohs scale hardness	6.5–7
Luster	Waxy, vitreous when polished
Streak	White
Diaphaneity	Translucent
Specific gravity	2.6
Density	2.6 g/cm³
Optical properties	Uniaxial (+)
Refractive index	1.530–1.543
Birefringence	Up to 0.004
Pleochroism	Absent
References	[1][2]

Mining

In the early days of condor agate collecting, a typical month of effort would yield 1 ton of good agates. Currently, excavation is required to find the agates, so an extra effort is needed to supply the ever growing demand for these gems. Initially, the agates were found scattered loose over the landscape and were readily harvested in quantity. Today, surface collecting is no longer prolific, so these agates are collected from shallow diggings in the cold agate fields in Mendoza province, Argentina.^{[citation needed]}