Chalcedony (Var: Diackethyst)

These diackethyst specimens range from about 1cm to 3cm in length. This photo shows them as they were collected and without any alteration. These specimens were collected by myself at Boddin in the parish of Craig south of Montrose. They are relatively rare in comparison with the onyx and fortification agates which can also be found on the same beaches and "in situ" rocks.
I wrote a series of published articles on agate collecting in "Gem Craft" magazine in 1977 which mention diackethyst. Again in the March edition of the "Lapidary Journal", I made mention of diackethyst or amethystine coloured chalcedony. Dr Roger Harding put an inscribed diackethyst specimen on display in the Geological Museum in London in 1987. This specimen was loaned to the museum by me. The name diackethyst was on the descriptive label and it remained in the showcases of gems and minerals until major refurbishment some years later.

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Photo added: 26th Aug 2009