About agates
Agates are the mineralogical symbol of the Kaczawskie Foothills. They are genetically related to Permian volcanism and were formed by filling gas voids in lava flows and volcanic tuffs with silica compounds precipitating from hot solutions circulating in the rock during the final stages of volcanic activity. Individual specimens range in size from a few millimetres to several tens of centimetres in length and consist of alternating layers of varying thickness, not always clearly different in terms of colour. The spatial patterns in agates are diverse, ranging from concentric and lens-shaped to starry and veined, with stripes parallel to each other.
The interiors of agates can be hollow, partially filled with crystals of milky quartz, smoky quartz, or amethyst. The processing of the rock, after its finding, involves cutting the agate nodule and grinding it to bring out the colourful pattern formed by the precipitation of silica.
Piekiełko and agates of the Kaczawskie Foothills
The Piekiełko Valley, located in the central part of the Kaczawskie Foothills, south of Nowy Kościół, is the most famous location for the occurrence of agates in the region. Agates occur within the cover of volcanic rocks with a thickness of up to 150 metres, composed of rhyolites in the upper part and tuffs in the lower part. In the upper part of the tuffs, the occurrence of agates is most common.
Description: Piotr Migoń
Nearby attractions
- When in the area, it’s worth visiting the nearby Wielisław Organ or the town of Złotoryja, where you can find the Museum of Gold (Muzeum Złota) and the Aurelia Adit.
