Agate Dyeing

Jewelry Discussion
1

I was recently in Brasil and saw some dyed agate. Does anyone have
any formulas or methods of how this is done? Not that I want to do
it, but I am forever curious. thanks

Love and God Bless
-randy
http://www.rocksmyth.com
Home 214-321-6253
Work 469-775-6650
Cell 214-213-0777

2

The best source I’ve ever found for treatments of agates is “Gemstone
and Mineral data book” by John Sinkankas. It covers quite a few
diferent methods. There may be newer formulas now but this is a very
interesting book.

cutter12

3

Mark Liccini had a thread on this a while back on how annd why .
leon k

** Hanuman’s Note **

Check the archive at:
https://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive/index.htm

4

Greigers used to sell the dye powder, when there was a Greigers.
After you’ve polished the agate wash it and dry it thoroughly. You
mix aniline dye powder with isopropyl alcohol, soak the agate for a
while (time varies by the agate), remove and let the agate air dry.
Place it in a warming oven, heat gently up to about 250, let cool.
The alcohol is long gone, and the dye is firmly in the microscopic
tubes. If you can find a copy there is a great paperback THE ART OF
DYEING GEMS AND GEM MATERIALS by John Neavin. He gives other recipes
which will produce even more profound color changes, and be totally
solvent proof, which the aniline/isopropyl is not.

Jim Small
Small Wonders

5 
 I was recently in Brasil and saw some dyed agate.  Does anyone
have any formulas or methods of how this is done?  Not that I want
to do it, but I am forever curious.  thanks

Best book on the subject “Gemstone and Chemicals” George Fischer PHD
The author died some time ago,the book is out of print,but I have a
copy here http://www.LICCINI.com/Treating/GemChem/GemPage.htm

Mark Liccini
http://www.LICCINI.com

6

… the dyed brazilian agates you saw were dyed before they were cut.
so unless you’ve got a high pressure unit just laying around where
you can put the geodes, exhaust the air & force the dye through the
skin into the geodes, you’ve got the right idea to ‘just to find out
how it’s done’ - the density/porosity of the geodes crystals
determines whether a layer will receive the dye or let it pass
through - no matter how well it’s done, the dye will fade over time
if exposed to light. before you ‘jumpers’ start on your mark to tout
retro dye jobs as being semi-permanent, my partner buys the stuff
from brazil by the multi barrel quantities - dyed agate & diddley i
know about - ive