Agate, Gobi Desert, Tumbled Stones

Gobi Desert Agate is the true definition of a naturally tumbled stone.

As its name suggests, Gobi Desert Agate — or Gobi Agate — is found in the remote Gobi Desert region in China and was once a prized find by nomadic peoples of inner Mongolia and northern China. Those who were lucky enough to find these stones in ancient times would trade them for high values.

Gobi Agate stones combine Agate and Chalcedony —both part of the Quartz family — and are found in deposits that exist just below the desert surface. Since these stones are so valuable to natives, the exact locations where they’re found are often kept a secret.

These stones were found in the Alxa League, a far western portion of the Gobi Desert in Inner Mongolia, China. Today, Alxa League is a beautiful area filled with natives, nomads and tourists who wish to try their luck at finding the rare and valuable crystal and mineral specimens that the desert hides under its surface.

Each stone in this listing has a unique shape and color that is formed over hundreds of years of exposure to harsh desert winds that can get up to 90 miles per hour in the peak seasons. 

Because of the rarity and beauty of Gobi Desert Agates, these natural beauties are often a sought after gemstone for jewelry and are most often sold by jewelers as a gemstone bead strand for necklace or pendant making.

Due to the harsh conditions that these stones form in, they do not need a tumbling process — Mother Earth did it for us! Each piece is fairly rounded and very few have the same shape or color — which forms due to the mineral and sand inclusions in each stone.

What is a Gobi Agate?

Gobi Agate combines both Agate and Chalcedony to create a stunning bead-like stone that Mother Earth created using long periods of harsh weather and desert sands.

These stones were treasured during ancient times for their rarity and beauty and were prized trading pieces along the Silk Road.

Since the Gobi Desert is a very diverse biome that contains desert lands, steppes, mountainous regions and flatlands, travelers can find a wide selection of gemstone, mineral and fossil specimens in this area.

Today, many Gobi Desert natives still make their living in the desert, despite the unpredictable climate that can bring long and unforgiving winters with short, moderate summers — which isn’t what many people think of when they picture desert life. 

Most Gobi natives live off their land by tending to livestock and gathering Agate in order to make their living. These people were vital to merchants who traveled along the Silk Road and sought items to bring back to their native lands. Today,  Mongolian and Chinese Nomads and tourists continue to travel these roads in search of souvenirs, Gobi Agates and other fossils.

How Are Gobi Agates Formed?

Gobi Desert Agate formed over thousands — and even millions — of years thanks to the harsh weather conditions experienced in their native home in China.

Geologists theorize that these stones were the product of submarine volcanic eruption and rapid cooling, experienced seawater erosion, weathered rain and snow, hot summer, and severe cold after the erosion of the geological landscape.

The most common areas that produce Gobi Desert Agate have little or no water at all. This dry condition, filled with treacherous weather and high winds, creates small deposits of sediment just below the earth’s surface. This is where these stones form over many generations.

In ancient times, wind storms would uncover beds of these agates — which made post-storm days a very valuable time for those who searched for the crystal in order to trade it to make a living.

Mother Earth carefully polished and sculpted each item by wind and sand — also known as ventifact — to create the stunning textures of intricate patterns and colors that you see on each stone. 

What Are the Metaphysical Properties of Gobi Desert Agates?

Gobi Desert Agate is said to be a stone of Transition, Transformation and Transcendence. 

These high energy stones are the product of many seasons of various weather conditions and powerful elements, including sand, evaporated sea water and, in some cases, snow. As a result, each Gobi Agate nodule (or Agate Eyes) contains a historic record of the earth that dates back thousands — or even millions — of years.

These stones were considered in ancient times to be magic, as they developed in shallow beds under the desert surface and would sometimes appear like magic after high winds or sand storms uncovered them. Those winds and the other powerful elements helped give these stones their unique pattern, length, color and energy.

Each color of Gobi Desert Agate is said to have its own unique property. For example, a gold-orange hued nodule is thought to represent creativity within one's self by clearing away negative energy to allow the free flow of ideas and experiences.

Practitioners use Gobi Desert Agate to help those who repress feelings and emotions to achieve a gentle release of this "buildup" that can cause mental strain or illness.

Because of the size of each Gobi Desert Agate nodule included in this listing, you can use this item as a carry piece. Gobi Agate is also popular in jewelry and gemstone bead form, as a bracelet, necklace or pendant.

Interested in Gobi Desert Agate?

Gobi Desert Agates are growing increasingly rare and are harder to find in bulk quantities. As a result, we only have a limited number of these natural beauties.

We are pleased to offer Gobi Agate tumbled stones for purchase and are certain that these wonderful stones will add a dash of happiness to your heart and home — while bringing a little bit of nature indoors.

If you have any questions about Gobi Desert Agate, or are interested in purchasing these tumbled stones in a larger quantity, feel free to contact us.

You will receive one stone, which has a size and shape that may vary due to each stone being unique in color, length and form. Most stones range between 0.6"-1.2" Some Gobi Desert Agate Specimens are smaller than the average tumbled stone.