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Agate vs Chalcedony - What's the difference?

agate | chalcedony |

As nouns the difference between agate and chalcedony

is that agate is a semi-pellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen, with colors delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds while chalcedony is a form of fine-grained quartz that is nearly transparent or has a milky translucence; it fractures conchoidally.

As an adverb agate

is on the way; agoing.

agate

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) agathe, from (etyl) .

Noun

  • (countable, uncountable, mineral) A semi-pellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting various tints in the same specimen, with colors delicately arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds.
  • (uncountable, US, printing) 5.5-point size of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil; in England called ruby.
  • (countable, obsolete) A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures cut in agate for rings and seals.
  • (countable) A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.;—so called from the agate fixed in it for burnishing.
  • (slang, usually in plural) A testicle.
  • Synonyms
    * (printing) ruby (Britain)
    Hyponyms
    * (mineralogy) fortification agate, Scotch pebble; moss agate, clouded agate
    Derived terms
    * moss agate * agate line * agateware

    Etymology 2

    Adverb

    (-)
  • (obsolete) On the way; agoing.
  • to be agate'''; to set the bells '''agate
    (Cotgrave)
    ----

    chalcedony

    English

    Noun

    (chalcedonies)
  • A form of fine-grained quartz that is nearly transparent or has a milky translucence; it fractures conchoidally.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2012-03
  • , author=Lee A. Groat , title=Gemstones , volume=100, issue=2, page=128 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=Although there are dozens of different types of gems, among the best known and most important are […] . (Common gem materials not addressed in this article include amber, amethyst, chalcedony , garnet, lazurite, malachite, opals, peridot, rhodonite, spinel, tourmaline, turquoise and zircon.)}}

    See also

    * (noun: types of minerals) agate, chert, flint, moganite * (adjective) conchoidal * (adverb) conchoidally * (noun) break, fracture, flake, shatter * (verb) knapp, break, fracture, flake, shatter