Near the Piedra Parada, a 240 m high Monolith east of the township of Esquel, is a very interesting locality for lithophysae situated. A complete hill near to this monumental rock is compoesed of myriads of globular shaped lithophysae. At this place it is very easy to collect superb esthetically formed compositions of agate-bearing globes.
The spherulithical structure of the rockformation “Perlite” is easily recognizable because the center of spherulitical growing is contrasting in a pale colour to the brownish surrounding rim of the lithophysae.
The agate that is showing up in the cavities of the lithophysae is only weak banded - thin brownish bands against a greyish-blue matrix of chalcedony. “Waterlevel-agate-formations” are quiet common. Very often this “waterlevel-agate” is representing interchanging layers of greyish-blue chalcedony and white opal.
More informations about this locality are given from Peter Jeckel in his article “Achate aus Patagonien” Lapis 10, 2005.
Rough material and polished specimens from this locality are offered at www.achatwelt.de
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