5.3" Polished Trent Agate With Stibnite & Realgar - Oregon

Polished Trent Agate With Stibnite & Realgar - Oregon #184748

This is a fascinating, polished slab of trent agate from Oregon. It measures 5.3" wide and has been polished to a glossy finish on one side. It comes with an acrylic display stand.

Note: The first photo is a backlit photo of the specimen, explaining the color change between the black and white bordered photos. The depth of the stibnite crystal formations can clearly be seen in this backlit photo.

Trent stibnite agate, also known as "Trent agate", is a very unique and rare agate formation that occurred around crystal sprays of stibnite and/or realgar. Trent agate was collected in the 1960s from a railroad cut in Trent, Oregon. Following an accident at the site of collection, the mine was closed and eventually covered by a road. Specimens of this beautiful agate are now only obtainable through old collections.

Like many other agates, Trent agates form when microscopic silica crystals deposit into cavities in concentric layers within cavities of rocks. Its colors depend on impurities within the silica-rich depositing solutions: in this case Trent agate is colored by arsenic, realgar, and stibnite impurities.

While both realgar and stibnite are toxic and can be harmful if inhaled or swallowed, they are encased in silica in this specimen and would not pose a health hazard. We still encourage washing your hands after handling this material to be on the safe side.

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