This might look like an exotic gemstone, but it’s actually not made my nature at all — it’s Fordite or Motor Agate. The photos on imgur are just some of the many pieces of motor agate that have been rounded up by collectors.
The beautifully colorful agate is a byproduct from auto manufacturing. The agate was formed back when auto plants used to paint cars with hand sprayers, the excess paint would collect on different pieces of equipment and harden into a stone-like product after exposure to the plant’s drying ovens.
The agate that was once considered a waste byproduct is now sought after by jewelry makers and collectors for its colorful layers. As yo can see, it really is a truly beautiful fake gemstone with ties to the American auto industry’s golden age.
