Anyone who has been on an agate-hunting excursion knows that you rarely come across specimens that resemble agates found in museums, gift shops, or jewelry. The characteristic banding and speckles of quartz found on agates occur on the inside of the rock, only being exposed by cutting or by long term exposure to the elements. It is a rarity to find this distinctive layer of the mineral exposed naturally, so it is vital for any enthusiast to be able to recognize agate in the rough.