Mexican Purple Passion Agate

Mexico has long been a source of brilliant colored banded and lace agates, but, for the last couple of years, one agate, in particular, has generated a lot of attention: Purple Passion!

- RUSS KANIUTH

This agate has so many beautiful characteristics, with its wide array of colors ranging from soft pink to lavender to deep dark purple and flowering patterns that largely resemble Agua Nueva agate. This agate seems to come in nodules, but actually, its more of a seam agate and usually comes in smaller chunks.

When shopping for Purple Passion, there are a few variances to look for in the rough. Some will include quartz as its matrix, with some fantastic purple agate swirls running through the center. Additionally, other chunks will be encrusted with its host rock and surrounded by the flowering patterns, much like you see in Agua Nueva agate.

Helpful Hint: It’s always best to wet this material to see its colors and whether it will have nice patterns running through it.