Dear friends and collectors of fine agates,
Morocco has a long tradition for locals and Europeans to go there to collect agates.
First discoveries of colorful agates were made in the Middle Atlas Mountains of the North-African and very hot deserted country about 40 years ago.
A little over a decade ago was the first time that colorful agates had been discovered in the High Atlas Mountains, hundreds of miles away from the first discovered locations. This first location was called Al "Hama". Short for High Atlas Mountain Agates. At the time of discovery, it was the most colorful agate discovery in Morocco. The yellow and orange bands could be of a thickness and saturation that was unmatched. While most of the agates formed in a seam type, a very small amount of nodular type agate had been found as well.
The surface of the location was pretty quickly cleaned off of its natural treasures, and only years later local miners started digging into deeper layers to uncover more of its banded beauties. Even though there is little material showing up here and there, it is not a commercial amount that is coming up to the market.
In this week's YouTube video, you can watch me cut 6 pieces from this rare lolace.
In the end I only got one of the pairs polished to sell on a retail based market platform.
The other pieces will be sold wholesale to other dealers, or be given away to friends. :)
On my website you can find the beautiful cave scenery specimen, as well as other pieces which I have cut in earlier times, as well as other very High quality agates from other Moroccan locales such as Kerrouchen from the Middle Atlas, and a killer piece from Tizerine in the High Atlas Mountains. You may also recognize the yellow/purple specimen from the earlier stalactite explanation video on my channel. Another Highlight is the silver shining hematite piece from the Aouli location, which I purchased at one of my first trips to Morocco about 10 years ago, and have kept it in my collection since!
Please enjoy my new agates, and the new video cutting these rare gems.
Wish you all a great weekend,
Joshua