More About Beautiful Agate
Facts you should know
Agate is an unusual stone that is more creatively striped by Nature than others. Agate is the banded form of Chalcedony. Each inimitable agate forms by filling a cavity in host rock. As a result, agate is often found as a round nodule, with concentric bands like the rings of a tree trunk. The bands sometimes look like eyes, strange scallops, or a beautiful landscape picture. And its name was derived from the site of its discovery, the river Achates (now Dirillo) in southwest Sicily. Agate comes in many different forms ranging from transparent to opaque. Varieties include Blue Agate, Blue Lace Agate, Green Agate, Crazy Lace Agate, Indian Agate, Moss Agate (help one get in touch with nature), Tree Agate (help with introspection, helps one view themselves with more clarity and see the world through a broader viewpoint.), Fire Agate, Onyx, Sardonyx and Wood Agate. Agate found in a wide range of pale colors. Blue agate is as expected, light blue. Moss agate is dark green, often with clear patches. Tree agate is green and white. Petrified wood is usually brown, white or red. Agate is often shaped into beads cabochons. It is usually made into necklaces, pendants or earrings. Agate’s hardness rating is 7 can crack and chip rather easily. Since agate is porous, it is commonly dyed to strengthen its natural color. Often treated agate is sold as Black Onyx. It sources include South of Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul), Eygpt, Germany, India, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, China and the USA(Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming).
Treatment, legends and lore
Said by the ancients, agate has been admired by humanity for thousands of years. It was highly valued used as a talisman or amulet in that time. Agate’s beauty and durability have prompted humankind to use it for both practical and ornamental purposes that to cure insomnia, ensure pleasant dreams, protect against danger, and promote strength and healing. It was also said to quench thirst and protect against fever. Persian magicians used agate to divert storms.
A famous collection of agate bowls which was collected by Mithridates (king of Pontus). They were also popular in the Byzantine Empire. Collecting agate bowls became common in Europe. It was documented in 1497 that the mining of agate in the Nahe River valley in Germany. In the 19th century, when the Nahe agate deposit had been extinct, Idar-Oberstein's cutters started to develop the agate deposits of Brazil, which sparked off exploration and the discovery of Brazil's rich deposits of amethyst, citrine, tourmaline, topaz, and other gemstones. Agate is one of the oldest known gems. In Roman times, Agate intaglio signet rings were particularly popular. Also agate was especially valued during medieval times.
Others about agate
1) Birthstone. May Birthstone: Ayurvedic birthstone.
September birthstone: Mystical birthstone.
Capricorn (Dec22 – Jan19), Aquarius (Moss Agate) (Jan20 – Feb18)
Gemini (May21 – Jun20), Cancer (Jun21 – Jul22)
2) Anniversary. 12th year of marriage.
