Agate
With over thirty distinct varieties, Agate is the name given to a large family of chemically related stones. All varieties are composed of SiO2 They form according to a trigonal crystal structure, and have a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale.
Used throughout history as decorative objects and talismans, they are also revered as tools for self-discovery and personal transformation.
*Please see other gem varieties of Agate such as Carnelian and Bloodstone are listed separately. Click on each stone type to read about their healing properties. Not sure where to start and want to learn more?
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More About Agates Agates are a subcategory of quartz gemstones that possess unique banded patterns caused by regular changes in their composition during growth. Minerals dissolve, diffuse, recrystallize, and grow under certain conditions, resulting in layered structures, colours, and textures. Gemmologists classify agates according to factors like their hardness, lustre, refractivity, cleavage, fracture, and other properties, which helps distinguish them from similar materials. Formation of Agates Agates begin life inside volcanic cavities, voids, or cracks, where silica-rich fluids precipitate out of solution under lower temperatures and pressures. Over time, successive depositional layers form concentric rings around a central core. Depending on local environments, impurities incorporated into the fluid contribute to varying colours and banding. Iron oxides create reds, yellows, and browns; manganese produces pinks; and titanium results in blues and whites. Additionally, agatized fossils sometimes occur when organisms become replaced by silica. Dissolved gases, temperature variations, or changes in the rate of deposition influence individual patterns and designs within each agate. Agates are a microcrystalline for of quartz. Rather than perfect geometric shapes, agates display more irregularly arranged, interlocking fibres with diverse thicknesses.