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Gemstone Crystal System Density Hardness Refractive index Treatments
Agate microcrystalline 2.66 6.5-7.0 1.544-1.553 dying

 

 


agate carved plate
Carved agate plate from
Idar-Oberstein, Germany

Color:
All colors are possible, whether naturally occurring or as the result of dying.

Durability:
Excellent. Agates are extremely tenacious.

Localities:
Found all over the world, abundantly.

Varieties:
Abakusz-kö
Agate-Jasper
Blue Lace Agate
Botswana Agate
Brecciated Agate
Cloud Agate
Crazy Lace Agate
Enhydro Agate
Eye Agate
Fire Agate
Fortification Agate
Fossil Agate
Haema-ovoid-agates
Iris Agate
Laguna Agate
Lake Superior Agate
Mexican Lace Agate
Nipomo Agate
Onyx
Pigeon Blood Agate
Plume Agate
Riband Agate
Sardonyx
Vogelaugenachat

Agate
SiO2

Agate is a variety of banded microcrystalline quartz, or chalcedony. There are countless varieties of agate usually named after their physical characteristics or location of origin. The layers of agate form as layers of chalcedony line a cavity (or vug) in a host rock.
Since the twelfth century agate has been attributed with the power of improving one's disposition as well as their eyesight. These beliefs still carry on today. My favorite claims for agate were stated in The Book of Saxon Leechdoms written in 1864. Here, it was written, that agate prevents harm from thunder, sorcery, demonic possession, poison and drunkenness!

Quartz Family:

Amethyst
Citrine
Ametrine
Rutilated Quartz
Smokey Quartz
Rose Quartz
Dendritic Quartz
Tourmalinated Quartz
Phantom Quartz


Microcrystalline
Quartz:

Agate
Chrysoprase
Jasper
Carnelian
Bloodstone
Onyx

Following is an example of banded agate from Brazil:

agate