Grant McOmie travels to the Oregon Coast on a hunt for "all things shiny" -
Agates are little rocky nuggets of silica that formed inside ancient rocks or shells millions of years ago and as the outer layer wears away the agate remains. Agates are little rocky nuggets of silica that formed inside ancient rocks or shells millions of years ago and as the outer layer wears away the agate remains. I was surprised to learn that shoreline agates and jasper don't come from the sea, but originate high in the watershed.
Agates come in varied colors ranging from orange to red or pink to lavender -- even black.