Rare Specimen -
Utah is the only place in the US where Grape Agate is found.
The San Rafael Swell area of Utah was one of my dad's favorite rockhunting destinations! Most Utah grape agate has an exterior of botryoidal bumps that makes identification more clear. But the color, shape of the nodule, and interior are also key identifiers.
You can read more about the San Rafael Swell in my blog essay:
A piece this size and quality would be exceedingly rare to find "in the wild" today and almost never seen for sale. Rockhounding sites mention it frequently but also caution that you can hunt, but you likely will not find. One reliable site recommends that you strain the sand in hopes of finding small pieces. So, if you need a rare specimen for your collection, this is your rock.
Recently, a purple grape agate has started to be imported from Indonesia. UTAH HAD THE NAME FIRST!!! Another rockhound website, "Rock Seeker", has reliable information and has this to say about OUR grape agate (near the very end of the article ... grumble, grumble): "this area is the only place in the United States where you’ll find this material."
The piece offered is in the first two pictures. The others are for context and comparison.
Utah Grape Agate
SHIPPING INFO
This will be shipped in a USPS "flat rate" padded envelope at the USPS shipping charge of $11.20. You can save money on shipping by ordering several items together so you only pay one shipping charge. Or, to set up a custom order, just send me a message and I'll take it from there.