Orions Sword

I took this highly magnified micro-photograph from a rock I collected in Arizona. Fire Agate is

the “prize” I find in the desert of Arizona. The “fire” in fire agate is produced by many very thin

agate layers coated with goethite, an iron hydroxide mineral. The minerals are deposited in many

layers over millions of years. Goethite and agate create iridescent colors when light is reflected

and refracted from the surface of the rock. The iridescent yellow structures in the photo are

formed by this process. Orion’s sword is made up three stars in the Nebula. They are hanging o

on Orion’s belt.