Mexican agates are known for their vibrant, striking banding and wide array of colors, which can include combinations of red, yellow, orange, and even blues and greens. And while they come from many different parts of Mexico, the most popular are the agates from the northern state of Chihuahua.
But have you ever thought about what it takes to mine these agates? It’s hard work, that’s for sure, as you’ll see in this video. So join the guys from Del Rey Agates, Gems & Minerals as they visit Estación Ojo Laguna in Chihuahua, Mexico.
Watch The Video!
What makes mining Mexican agates so difficult? The mines are often located in remote, difficult-to-reach areas with challenging terrain, which complicates transportation.
And if you think folks are simply walking creeks and picking these things up off the ground, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. The extraction process of these types of agates relies on hand tools and manual labor to carefully remove the agates from the surrounding stone to avoid damaging them. The process is meticulous, painstakingly slow and requires expertise to differentiate between what are agates, and what are not.
The work is physically demanding and performed under potentially hazardous conditions, emphasizing the importance of strict safety protocols, which unfortunately, are not always followed or regulated.
