Mckenzie Santimer from the Gemological Institute of America GIA describes the "Eyes of Brazil" exhibit and tells the history of how it became part of their permanent collection

The stunning series of agate slices in the "Eyes of Brazil" are all cut from a single geode found in 2014 by soy farmers tilling their field in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Their backhoe crushed the end of the boulder, leading to the discovery of crystals inside. The approximately 2 meter (6 foot) long geode-boulder was stabilized with wire and cement before cutting could begin. It took 12 days to saw each slice, and more than a year to polish all 16 slices. The series clearly shows the layers of agate deposited along the inner wall of the cavity, until conditions and space allowed for the growth of rock crystal in the center.