Botswana Agate Round — Richardson's Rock Ranch — The Sunrise

We bought one piece of raw Botswana agate at Richardson's Rock Ranch — three pounds. We didn't figure we would make it to Africa, so we brought Africa home. I had one rule going into that pile: no white. I wanted solid caramel. I spent an hour in 95-degree Oregon heat turning over stone after stone. The Richardson Strike →

The stone surprised me as I started grinding. The dome was tall, so as I thinned it down the sun was almost halfway up the stone. The thinner it got, the further back in time I went — watching the sun inch back from 10am to dawn. That is why it is still a thick cabochon. I stopped when I hit sunrise. The Richardson's Rock Ranch Collection →

Richardson's Rock Ranch was Day 3 of our 3,000-mile run. The 3,000-Mile Run Collection → Read the full trip. The 3,000-Mile Run →

Not dyed. Not enhanced. One of a kind.

All Stones → All Tales →

The Stone
Type: Botswana Agate (Banded Chalcedony)
Origin: Africa via Richardson's Rock Ranch, Madras Oregon
Dimensions: 20mm round
Finish: High Polish
Mohs: 6.5–7
One of a Kind: Yes

Loose Stone
Loose stone, undrilled. Build Your Setting →

— Bob & Janyce, Rockhound Studio, Spokane Valley WA