PARCELAS AGATES
A Distinctive Agate from the Cerro El Oregano Region
Parcelas agate is found in the Cerro El Oregano area of northern Chihuahua, Mexico, approximately eight miles northeast of Le Barón. Although it has often been mistaken for and marketed as Casas Grandes agate, Parcelas agate is easily recognizable once its characteristic features are understood.
The rough nodules typically have a coarse and irregular exterior rind that may display shades of gray, red, and green. Inside, the agates reveal banding that ranges from lavender to pale gray and dark gray, with most specimens displaying alternating light and dark bands.
Unlike many other Mexican agates known for vivid reds and oranges, Parcelas agates tend to have a more subdued but elegant color palette, often dominated by cool gray and lavender tones. These subtle colors create refined banding patterns that are appreciated by collectors who value structure and contrast rather than bright coloration.
Many of the nodules were originally hollow and were later filled with manganese-rich minerals, particularly psilomelane and cryptomelane, which are believed to be responsible for some of the darker coloration seen in the agate.
Parcelas agate was first discovered in the late 1950s by Francisco Lucero of Carmen, Chihuahua. The deposit was later mined by well-known agate miner Benny Fenn under the concession known as Las Parcelas.
Today Parcelas agate remains an interesting and lesser-known locality within the CHIHUAHUA agate region, producing specimens that are distinct from the more famous Coyamito and Laguna agates but equally fascinating for collectors who appreciate unique banding structures.