Navajo Fire Agate and Silver Ring c. 1980s, size 6.5 (J10878)

5.3g, size 6.5, 0.75" x 0.25" face. Signed "MDB" on the backside. Acquired from a private collection in Arizona. The owner inherited from her mother, who collected for over 40 years on the reservation. Fire agate is a semi-precious natural gemstone in the chalcedony family. It is found in areas of the southwestern US and in central and northern Mexico. Fire agate was formed 24-36 million years ago during the Tertiary Period. It is between 5 and 7 on the Mohs Scale, and has beautiful iridescent colors.