Nenjiang Agate [Heilongjiang Nenjiang Specialty]

What is Nenjiang agate? Authentic Heilongjiang Nenjiang specialty: Nenjiang agate

Content summary:Do you want to know what Nenjiang agate is? This article is a detailed introduction to the special product of Nenjiang Agate in Heilongjiang Province, China. It was compiled by the editorial team of China Specialty Network, who reviewed and collected relevant information on Nenjiang Agate. The full text takes about 6 minutes to read, mainly including the basic introduction of Nenjiang Agate and the product characteristics of Nenjiang Agate? How did the history of Nenjiang agate come about? How to distinguish between genuine and fake Nenjiang agate? Wait

Basic Introduction to Nenjiang Agate

The fine stone tools in the lower reaches of the Nenjiang River are different from the bulky stone tools of the Paleolithic era, the common polished stone tools of the Neolithic era, and the much rougher "small stone tools" unearthed in the south. The Nenjiang fine stone tools are made from the abundant river stones in the Nenjiang River Valley, selecting colorful and tough materials such as flint, agate, jade, and opal as raw materials, and using indirect striking or pressure cutting methods. They are small and delicate, both exquisite and sturdy. Even novices can recognize them as stone tools processed by ancient humans. Modern artists are also willing to collect them as exquisite handicrafts. What are the characteristics of Nenjiang agate products

The Nenjiang River water washed agate has undergone crustal uplift and subsidence, sea immersion and retreat, flood erosion, wind and sand erosion, and has been washed, washed, transported, and rubbed by water. The stone surface is smooth and the shape is beautiful, with a variety of shapes and distinct transparency. Colorful and warm, rich in beautiful colors, hard in texture, dense and delicate, locally known as the seed material of Nenjiang agate, it is a masterpiece among Chinese agate stones

It is recorded that agate is called "agate" because its original stone shape is similar to horse's brain. The deeds of agate are recorded in both the Old Testament Bible and Buddhist scriptures. In the East, it is one of the Seven Treasures and Seven Treasures. Agate can be divided into chalcedony and agate. Raw stones with uncomplicated colors are called "chalcedony", while raw stones with straight and parallel stripes are called "striped agate" (cut agate). According to the color of the raw stone, it is also called wrapped agate, deep red agate, etc. The history of agate is very distant. About 100 million years ago, underground magma erupted in large quantities due to crustal changes. When the lava cooled, steam and other gases formed bubbles. Bubbles are sealed off when rocks freeze, forming many holes. After a long time, the hole was immersed in a solution containing silicon dioxide and condensed into silica gel. The soluble components of iron bearing rocks enter the silica gel, and finally the silica gel crystallizes into agate. In mineralogy, it belongs to the category of chalcedony, which is a stone pulp with different colors and distributed in a ring like pattern. Usually, silica colloids gradually fill the walls of rock cavities or voids towards the center, forming concentric or parallel layered blocks. Generally semi transparent to opaque, with a hardness of 6.5 to 7 degrees, a specific gravity of 2.55 to 2.91, and a refractive index of 1.535 to 1.539. Agate can be formed from both igneous and sedimentary rocks in various geological strata throughout history. So, there are many agates with significant differences in their color. According to their different patterns and colors, there are names such as onyx, mossy agate, and jadeite agate

How to distinguish the authenticity of Nenjiang agate

(1) Color: True agate has a bright and shiny color, while fake agate has slightly poorer color and luster, and the two are more pronounced. Natural red agate has a distinct color and very clear stripes. Upon careful observation, densely arranged small red spots can be seen at the red stripes. Fake agate smoking bottles replicated with stone often have petal shaped patterns at the bottom, forming a "chrysanthemum base"; And dyed blue agate has a bright and uniform color, giving people a false feeling

(2) Texture: Fake agates are mostly imitations of stone materials, which are softer in texture than real agates. Using jade can leave marks on fake agates, while genuine agates cannot. On the surface, genuine agate has few flaws, while inferior quality is more common

(3) Process quality: The production process of high-quality agate is strict and advanced, so the surface brightness is good, the inlay is firm, the circumference is straight, and there are no scratches or cracks

(4) Level: Water gall agate is the most precious variety of agate, characterized by closed cavities containing water