what is agate ?

Agate is a common gem whose main components are chalcedony and quartz and is composed of a wide range of colors. Agate is initially composed of volcanic and metamorphic rocks. In ancient Greece, agate was used in various jewels and seals of Greek warriors.

Agate is a type of chalcedony that is a form of quartz. This stone is distinguished from other chalcedony forms due to its transparency, color patterns or moss-like inclusions. Agate shows a wide range of vibrant and multiple colors. These materials are mainly the product of oxides of iron, manganese, titanium, chromium, nickel and other elements. All Agates are hard enough for jewelry and have a beautiful lacquer. Designers use attractive patterns of these stones to create unique and attractive pieces.

Agate is a type of clear microcrystalline quartz. If the agates have the desired quality and color, it will be used as a semi-precious stone.

Agate is formed by the deposition of silica from groundwater in igneous rock cavities. Agate accumulates around the walls of the cavity or in horizontal layers from the bottom of the cavity in concentric layers. Many Agates are characterized by band patterns. Some of these cavities are covered with crystals and are known as geodes.

Agate is available in a variety of colors including red, gray, white, black, pink, brown and yellow. Colors are created due to the presence of impurities and are seen as alternating bands inside the agate. Different colors are produced from groundwater with different compounds that seep into the cavity. The difference in the banding inside the cavity is due to the change in water chemistry. This ribbon creates interesting colors and patterns in the Agates, making it a popular gemstone.

Agates have been used as precious stones for centuries. Agates were some of the first stones made by humans. Today they are cut into beads, small sculptures, cowboys and functional objects. Agate cabochons are used in rings, earrings, pendants and other jewelry items. Due to their popularity, Agate beads are usually made in the form of necklaces and earrings.

Agate colors and patterns are usually insignificant, but Agate is a porous material that easily accepts color. Most agates are painted with a striking color. The color patterns of an Agate do not usually form interesting scenic scenes. Collectors follow these.

·        Hardness        7

·        Chemical Formula     SiO2

·        Double Refraction      .009

·        Cleavage        Indiscernible

·        Refractive Index         1.54 - 1.55

·        Color  White, Blue, Red, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple, Gray, Black, Banded, Multicolored

Spiritual effects of agate :

The variety of agate minerals means that you can provide all the crystals needed by your body and mind just by collecting enough samples of this precious stone. Diversity does not matter, agate is the stone of balance and harmony, creates a balance between negative and positive, and is known as the yin and yang of the mineral world.

Agates protect you from unwanted energies, keep you energized throughout the day and calm you down, allowing you to maintain your self-confidence. But different types and colors of Agate can have different spiritual effects on you.

Fire agate helps you get out of a stagnant situation or relationship and brings you energy and sparks of fire. agate fire inspires you to get away from your daily routine and look for new opportunities, new friends, but for those who have a spontaneous or perhaps reckless personality, agate fire can be troublesome!

Blue Lace Agate gives you a feeling of calm and positivity and is more relaxing. Blue Lace Agate helps solve communication problems at work and at home.

 Agates can have different effects on the psyche depending on the chemical makeup, location and color.

How to form agate :

Agates usually form inside volcanic lava or igneous rocks. The hot molten rock penetrates the earth's crust and begins to cool. Inside the lava gas bubbles and cracks, cavities are created where the lava flow mixes at different speeds and cools. When the lava turns to rock, the gases escape and leave small pockets of space. Inside these pockets are liquids such as silica, rich in soluble quartz molecules. Next, these liquids form crystals that have formed from changes in pressure, temperature, and other mineral impurities and can enter the cavity, creating colors and patterns that are very interesting in agate.

When the quartz agate is fully formed, it becomes harder than the surrounding rock and wind, and rain and ice slowly destroy everything but hard agates. These agates are then washed away by streams and settled in riverbeds until they are collected millions of years later by alluvial miners.

History :

Agate is one of the artifacts discovered from Neolithic areas in ancient times. Throughout history, agate has been used in shaving tools such as ornaments and amulets. agate was also used for its medicinal properties in the Greek and Egyptian empires and later spread to Russia through the Middle East. The Greek philosopher Theophrastus found agate on the banks of the Dirillo River in Sicily, around 3 and 4 BC.

The history of agate is linked to the German city of Idar-Oberstein, known as a center of vital gemstones. Agates and jasper were found in the area and cut and cleaned by local artisans. When large reserves of agate were found in the Rio Grande do Sul in the 1800s, they were sent to Germany for cutting and clearing. Agate cuts were made near Idar-Oberstein, which were suitable for this purpose due to their excellent skill and skill. Aidar-Oberstein is important for agate purification. agate can be found all over the world. Due to the unusually beautiful colored stripes and Korean appearance, it is usually available and equally in demand.

Throughout history, agate has been valued and respected. Agate has been used in almost all cultures and civilizations, in Islamic culture it has been used by prophets, and in the Babylonian civilizations agate has been used for protection and strength. It has been used in swords since ancient times. This gem was also used to ward off fear, insecurity and jealousy.

Ancient use : Agate has been used in the art of hard stone cutting since ancient times and has been discovered in ancient places, indicating its widespread use in the ancient world.

The formation and characteristics :

Agate minerals tend to form on or inside pre-existing rocks, making it difficult to determine exactly when they will form. Their host rocks date back to the early Orcanic period. Agates are usually found in the form of nodules in volcanic rock cavities. These cavities are made up of gases trapped inside liquid volcanic material. These cavities are made up of gases trapped inside liquid volcanic material. These cavities are then filled with silica-rich liquids from the volcanic material, the layers being placed on the walls of the cavity, which work slowly inwards. The first layer deposited on the walls of the cavity is called the priming layer.

The primer layer is often dark green, but can be modified by iron oxide to appear rusty. Agate is very durable and therefore often separates from the matrix by erosion, once removed, the outer surface is usually hollow and rough. Agate is found in sedimentary rocks, usually in limestone or dolomite. These sedimentary rocks often require cavities of buried organic matter. Agate is formed if silica-rich liquids are able to penetrate these cavities.

Agate Value :

In general, the value of agate is quite average. Their price reflects the effort of the workforce and the artist more than the value of the material. Agates with large size or with a clear, beautiful or scenic color pattern are sold at a great price. Custom cut pieces or stones are much more expensive than certain places.

When pricing gemstones, we need to consider conditions such as being at 4 ° C, color, clarity, cut and grade, and is usually the most important color. 4Cs should always be your guide when buying any colored gemstone, but agate has a few exceptions to these golden rules.

Color determines the price of agate in combination, but size is also important - if we have two equally interesting and colorful gemstones, the larger agate will cost better. The gem must be cut and polished to show its most interesting markings.

Certain types of agate are sold at higher prices, but in general agate is a mid-priced gemstone. Fire agates with low color display are well priced, agate moss and dendritic can provide high doses with interesting properties especially when it looks like a complete view of trees, fields, shrubs and lakes Show, gain. Other examples could be shells trapped inside rocks, or they may be in the branches of ancient trees that may have formed over millennia.

The agate source usually does not affect the price with one or two exceptions. Ellensburg Blue Agate is found only in the state of Washington on the west coast of the United States, which has created a combination of 43 different minerals of a special blue agate that can have a very high price of cut and paid gemstone.

Types of Agate :

Color patterns in agates usually come in concentric or flat layers or stripes. Mossy components can sometimes form plants and landscapes. The types of these stones are described by color patterns, their components or their source.

·       Tumbled Agate : Agate is the most popular type of rough for producing cast stones. It is generally cheap and can have good results for beginners. It has a hardness of seven and is loaded into a rock tumbler with jasper and any kind of quartz.

·        Banded : One of the most popular are agates with regular color layers and bright colors. These stones are found all over the world, but Brazil is one of the sources of production. Many banded Agates are colored and striped.

·        Moss, Plume, and Dendritic : These rocks contain mossy inclusions of mineral oxides that may be any color. Stones that have plant patterns are called moss agate. Those with feather-like patterns are called plume agates. Those with tree-like patterns are called dendritic agates.

·        Picture or Scenic : Some inclusions can create the perfect landscape, complete with lakes, shoreline, trees and shrubs, inside the agate. The stones that show these "natural images" are very valuable.

·        Fire : The inclusion of plate-like crystals such as limonite makes fire agates astronomical in color. Cutting and polishing can increase this effect.

·        Lace : These stones, which have been noted for their outstanding delicacy, are bonded with intricate bolts and nuts. Mexico is one of the main sources of this material.

·       Iris : These stones show dim colors that are reflected through the color layers.

·        Shell : Embedded silica shells create patterns in these agates. Torritella agates consists mostly of the shell and shell parts of the Toritella gastropod and other specific species.

·        Petrified Wood : The trunks and limbs of ancient trees and their organic components may have been replaced by agate over millions of years. In some cases, their wooden structure may also be preserved under a microscope. The color of agate can be very bright and strong.

Names of different types of Agate :

Agate has too many different names. Some varied names are commonly used by collectors and sellers, but many are made by sellers to describe another place or habit. The following are the types of known names or species that are commonly seen. Brand names that are rarely used and are not described here.

·        Sardonyx

·        Agate Geode 

·        Fortification Agate

·        Iris Agate 

·        Laguna Agate

·         Blue Lace Agate 

·        Botswana Agate 

·        Condor Agate

·        Snakeskin Agate 

·        Crazy Lace Agate 

·        Dendritic Agate 

·        Eye Agate 

·        Fire Agate 

·        Moss Agate 

·        Onyx 

·        Sagenite Agate 

Agte color :

Agates come in a wide range of natural colors,pink, yellow,brown, red, lilac , as well as black, gray, and white, but as the gemstone is completely porous, it takes on a good color, so jewels Bright or even colored may be well treated with this method.

Among colored gemstones, it is usually the color that determines the price, but in the case of Agate, it is slightly different. Natural blue and natural green are less common than other Agates colors, so they are more expensive, but the most expensive gemstones, Agate fires, have a dark body and a rainbow color.

Moss Agate is mostly creamy colored and has greenish components that look like moss, plants or grass, while Dentritic Agate, sometimes called Tree Agate, is similar but its components are brown and branch-like.

Blue Agates can be the most expensive, while the very rare Ellensburg Agates reaches the highest prices and are also well valued for their blue lace and Cellmark marks. Other Agates come in a variety of colors in different patterns, and it is this combination of bright colors in interesting patterns that increases the price of these gemstones.

Agate Clarity :

When discussing clarity in gemstones such as sapphire or aquamarine, we discuss how a stone looks to the naked eye, how clouds or components can affect the value of a stone, but in the case of agates, The methods are slightly different. With very few exceptions, agates can be described as translucent, meaning they allow light to pass through, while opaque gems do not allow any light to pass through.

agate is a type of chalcedony, and the price of chalcedony is determined by two things - the size of the crystals and its mineral composition. Agate has crystals and mineral compounds, but differs in transparent or semi-transparent forms and in other chalcedony forms. This is called diaphaneity - light passes easily through a substance.

Enhancements :

Dyeing is an old and common method to improve Agate. (Chalcedony rocks are relatively porous). This is a sustainable trend.

This secret staining process for Agate staining was developed in the 19th century in Aidar-Oberstein, Germany. When Agate reserves in the city were depleted, South American immigrants sent gray Agates to Idar-Oberstein. These painted pieces were amazing results.

 Agate dyeing should be disclosed to consumers.

Agates used as gemstones are often colored, but may be naturally colored, such as Agates from Brazil, which have more intense colors. Neon colors like pink, green or blue are always dyed in Agate.

Agate resources in the world :

Because agate is formed by the cooling of lava rock, it exists in areas of the world where volcanic activity has taken place, such as at the confluence of continental plates and in mountain ranges.

Agate can be found all over the world, either from the depths of the earth or from alluvial deposits near rivers and oceans, and is the largest modern reserves in Brazil and Uruguay. Certain types of agate are found in different parts of the world, such as fire agate in the western states and Mexico in North America. Moss Agate Discovered in India, Brazil and Uruguay, Dentritic Agate Discovered in Australia, Brazil, China. Madagascar and Namibia, Blue Lace Agate from South Africa and Crazy Lace Agate from Chihuahua in northern Mexico.

Agate reserves are found in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Poland, Botswana, India, Australia, and the United States (Oregon, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Michigan).

·        Moss agates: India; Scotland; United States Northwest.

·        Banded agates: Brazil; Uruguay; Madagascar; Mexico; United States.

·        Fire agates: Mexico.

·        Petrified wood: Arizona; New Mexico; California; Washington; Oregon; various European countries; many other localities.

·        Scenic agates: Yellowstone National Park; Wyoming; Montana.

·        Lace agate: Mexico; Arizona; Namibia.

USES of Agate :

Agate is an inexpensive gemstone in jewelry. It is cut and polished into cabochons and used in necklace and bracelet beads. It can also be worn as a pendant when cut into cameos.

Agate makes an exquisite decorative stone and cuts it into slabs, animal carvings, the end of ornate books and small sculptures and shapes. Ornaments such as knives, pins, snuff boxes and the like are cut from Agate.

The Health Benefits of Agate :

The combination of minerals and colors in Agate gives it unparalleled versatility in dealing with physical health. Agate affects the central part of the body, gastrointestinal tract, intestines and stomach as well as the uterus in women, it affects the heart and respiratory system. Expands. Headaches and migraines can be prevented by sleeping with Agate crystals under a pillow or just by holding this gemstone on the forehead or migraine.

Agate is an ideal gemstone for pregnant mothers. Agate is very good for the body and is very important for preventing postpartum depression. In addition it can increase breast milk.

On the other hand, they can be placed in your bag or pocket and used as a touchstone during the day. Hold the crystals while meditating. Easiest of all, lie down with crystals on your body, lined up with chakra points if possible. Put them in the bathroom. Decorate your home with crystals, keep some of the crystals in the workplace, so put them on your desk, this will help you relax so keep them in the living room.

By placing them under running water for 4 or 5 minutes, they are easy to clean and can be charged with a hard rub with a dry cloth, Agate is a strong gemstone.

Colour Healing & Types of Agate :

In addition to the general healing properties of Agate, certain colors and types have additional properties:

·        Botswana Agate

Chakra - Crown Chakra

Planet - Pluto

Element - Air, Fire

Origin - Botswana

Vibration - Number 3

Typical colours - purplish-grey

Botswana agate is useful for smokers and those who want to quit smoking. This helps you to look for solutions instead of dwelling on problems. Helps to discover the unknown land and his creativity. Botswana agate helps to see the bigger picture. Helps the body absorb oxygen. Helps relieve depression.

·        Brazilian Agate

Zodiac - Aries

Vibration - Number 2

Brazilian agate promotes emotional, physical and mental balance. Improves the centralization and stabilization of bodily energy. In general, Brazilian agate harmonizes yin and yang. It is a soothing and calming stone that has a lot of power but works slowly.

·        Bulls Eye Agate

Zodiac - Libra

Planet - Moon

Vibration - Number 7

Typical colours - black and white rings (or bands)

Bull Eye Agate (also known as Orbicular Agate) removes the evil eye or curse. It helps to improve the chances of survival in dangerous situations and helps the instinct to survive, eliminates fear. Increases the quality of movements and physical actions. Bulls Eye Agate is used to balance the chakras and stimulate awareness and achieve well-being. Improves disorders of the reproductive system.

·        White Agate

Chakra - Crown Chakra

Vibration - Number 9

White Agate is the "final stone of pregnancy". It protects the mother and baby from harm, relieves labor pains, relieves morning sickness, creates a healthy flow of milk for the baby.

What birthstone is Agate ?

September is the mystical month of Agatha's birth. Agate is also the birthstone of the Gemini zodiac sign. Babies in January, June and July can also use this as their birthstone. People born on June 21 and 21 can choose this stone as their birthstone since the fall of Gemini in May.