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Agate and her Sisters Trivia Quiz

Quartz is all around us, a part of many common rocks. Its crystals can form gorgeous gems, or can swirl, layer, and dance in a thousand colors...

A multiple-choice quiz by ragiel. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
ragiel

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
149,626

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
1118

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Names for microcrystalline quartz gemstones include jasper, agate, chalcedony, and chrysoprase. In fact, only one of the following is not a member of the family. Which? Hint

bloodstone

onyx

carnelian

amethyst

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Question 2 of 15

2. What color is sard? Hint

black with white stripes

bluish-green

blue to blue-violet

yellowish brown to deep brown

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Question 3 of 15

3. True or false: moss agate contains fossilized remnants of stems or leaves, as well as moss.

True

False

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Question 4 of 15

4. What is the color of gem-quality chrysoprase? Hint

bright green

teal green

deep forest green

greenish yellow

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Question 5 of 15

5. What type of carving on an agate would be suitable if the owner wanted a signet to stamp on her sealing wax? Hint

habille

geometric

cameo

intaglio

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Question 6 of 15

6. Yes or no: are such treatments as heating and dyeing agates considered fraudulent?

Yes

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Question 7 of 15

7. Quartz minerals can replace organic matter, resulting in such fossils as petrified wood and ammonites. I'm looking at a colorful cabochon cut from a coprolite. A what?! Hint

type of ancient tree sap

fossil with a natural blue-green color from copper minerals

fossilized animal droppings

type of root replaced by opal

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Question 8 of 15

8. Chalcedony is translucent with minimal layering of color. Some colors are prized and used in expensive jewelry.

True

False

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Question 9 of 15

9. The agate appears in older birthstone lists as one of the stones for which month?

Answer: (Name of month)

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Question 10 of 15

10. The prophet Muhammad wore a silver ring engraved with a prayer honoring God. What stone bore this engraving? Hint

black-and-white banded onyx

bloodstone

carnelian

white chalcedony

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Question 11 of 15

11. A widely-held ancient and medieval belief about green jasper is: Hint

It's lucky for lovers, because green symbolizes spring and joy.

It's lucky for hunters who need to remain unseen by their prey.

It's lucky for farmers because it prevents drought.

It's lucky for navigators, because a needle placed on it points north.

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Question 12 of 15

12. Minerals used by Native Americans to craft arrowheads include flint, quartz crystal, and banded agate.

True

False

13. I'm looking at a really elaborate cameo, probably carved in the 19th century. Distinct layers of white, red, and black have been used to detail the portrait and clothing. What is this type of stone called? Hint

banded agate

sardonyx

triple onyx

carnelian

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Question 14 of 15

14. If you are offered a piece of Victorian "Scotch pebble" jewelry in an antique store, it will probably be made of silver set with agate.

True

False

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Question 15 of 15

15. Reasons for the continuous popularity of the agate gems include which of these? Hint

all of these

affordable; with few exceptions, is not extremely costly

commonly found in most areas so most people can see and appreciate it

unique color and patterning; something to appeal to every taste

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Names for microcrystalline quartz gemstones include jasper, agate, chalcedony, and chrysoprase. In fact, only one of the following is not a member of the family. Which?

Answer: amethyst

Bloodstone is a green jasper with red spots of iron oxide; carnelian is translucent orange-red to brown, and onyx describes either black and white layering or a dense black. Amethyst is also a quartz gem but is cut from a large single crystal.

2. What color is sard?

Answer: yellowish brown to deep brown

Modern terminology includes many of these shades in the carnelian group.

3. True or false: moss agate contains fossilized remnants of stems or leaves, as well as moss.

Answer: False

Included mineral crystals are responsible for the "leaves and moss" in this agate. No fossilized vegetation here!

4. What is the color of gem-quality chrysoprase?

Answer: bright green

The beautiful bright green results from nickel compounds in the local rock.

5. What type of carving on an agate would be suitable if the owner wanted a signet to stamp on her sealing wax?

Answer: intaglio

Sealing those letters with a cameo would result in an indented image that probably be difficult to make out. If the cameo were "habille" (ha-bee-YAY) it would have gold and gemstone jewelry added to the image (necklaces, hair ornaments, etc.) I would expect it would be even harder to see, not to mention a pain to clean.

Intaglio carving is done in relief and produces a clear raised picture on the stamp.

6. Yes or no: are such treatments as heating and dyeing agates considered fraudulent?

Answer: No

Dyes to enhance the color, heating to increase translucency, and marking the surface with alkali to create patterns are all used today. These techniques were discovered in prehistoric days and are considered legitimate.

7. Quartz minerals can replace organic matter, resulting in such fossils as petrified wood and ammonites. I'm looking at a colorful cabochon cut from a coprolite. A what?!

Answer: fossilized animal droppings

Often sold as "dino doodoo" or something similar. In fact, most coprolite formed within the last few hundred thousand years, long after the time of the dinosaurs.

8. Chalcedony is translucent with minimal layering of color. Some colors are prized and used in expensive jewelry.

Answer: True

Currently favored colors include blue, lavender, and lavender-pink.

9. The agate appears in older birthstone lists as one of the stones for which month?

Answer: June

Still given as an alternative in some lists; however the lists displayed by modern jewelers emphasize more expensive stones like pearl and alexandrite. Coincidence?

10. The prophet Muhammad wore a silver ring engraved with a prayer honoring God. What stone bore this engraving?

Answer: carnelian

The name carnelian is probably a reference to its meatlike red color. Another name for this stone is cornelian, believed to suggest the red fruit of the cornel cherry. Both names are acceptable.

11. A widely-held ancient and medieval belief about green jasper is:

Answer: It's lucky for farmers because it prevents drought.

The hunters and lovers would probably have noticed some benefit if they expected to, but that navigator who relied on jasper for a magnetic compass would have been in serious trouble. Jasper has no magnetic properties.

12. Minerals used by Native Americans to craft arrowheads include flint, quartz crystal, and banded agate.

Answer: True

Yes, points made from all these minerals have been found. The prettier stones worked about as well as drab ones but may have been created partly for ornamental or magical reasons.

Answer: sardonyx

Utilizing multiple colored layers naturally and effectively is a test of the carver's skill.

14. If you are offered a piece of Victorian "Scotch pebble" jewelry in an antique store, it will probably be made of silver set with agate.

Answer: True

The supply of fine-quality Scottish agate was never enormous and dwindled rapidly when Victoria popularized the jewels. The Scottish silversmiths imported beautiful South American material and continued the tradition.

15. Reasons for the continuous popularity of the agate gems include which of these?

Answer: all of these

A talisman for all seasons, all eras, all people.... yet humble and friendly.

Source: Author ragiel

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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