Agate stone. Photo, description, properties, origin and use of the stone

Among the twelve biblical stones, the first sacred decorations, agate is proudly located - the stone of human well-being and longevity. According to legend, the gem received its name from the name of the river Agates (from the ancient Greek “lucky”). Since those distant times, the agate gemstone has not lost its symbolic meaning and magical power. Just like thousands of years ago, agate interior items, jewelry and amulets are popular and loved.

History and origin

Agate has been surrounded by many legends since its discovery. The first legends concern the origin of the stone. One version says that the mineral was found off the banks of the Achates River, which is located on the island of Sicily. According to the ancient scientist Pliny the Elder, it was the location of discovery that gave the mineral the name “agate.”

Another version says that the ancient Greeks gave the name to the gem, since translated from Greek the name of the stone means “happy, good, kind.”

It is true that other legends about the stone concern its unusual colors and fascinating patterns. Thus, agates with a pattern reminiscent of eyes gave rise to the legend of a celestial white eagle that fell to Earth and turned into stone after a battle with an evil sorcerer. After this, the stone became a symbol of the difference between good and evil.

The “big-eyed” gems were also called the “Eye of God.” More often this mention concerned the god Pluto or Vulcan. And ancient people placed stones processed into spherical shapes in the eye sockets of statues, believing that this would scare away evil forces.

The mentioned Pliny the Elder in his legends stated that agate has a beneficial effect on a person bitten by a spider or scorpion. The scientist also believed that medicine ground in an agate mortar facilitates the rapid treatment of diseases.

In fact, medieval healers used lotions of ground mineral with water to treat scorpion or snake bites, and alchemists of the same time made mortars and pestles from the gem. This ancient tradition has survived to this day, improved by modern technologies - laboratory containers are made from the gem.

The Italian Renaissance brought agate fame as a talisman for sculptors, craftsmen, artists, jewelers and other artisans. Any utensils and decorative items that decorated the houses of noble nobles and rulers were made from the mineral.

Did you know that one of the Vienna museums houses the largest agate product - an almost flat dish cut from a single nugget. The diameter of the rarity is 75 cm.

Thus, stone products gained popularity among the Byzantine basileus, and two centuries later, the Habsburg dynasty from Austria introduced a fashion for agate decorative items at court.

The properties of the mineral allow for very fine processing, due to which our ancestors considered agate a precious stone, and not an ornamental one. And mythology talks about agate as a symbol of good health, longevity and prosperity.

APPLICATION

White agate pendant

A valuable ornamental and semi-precious stone, widely used in jewelry and as a material for artistic carving. Used in precision instrument making. Due to its strength and viscosity combined with high hardness, agate is used to make mortars and pestles for chemical analytical work, prisms for analytical balances, and watch stones.

Since ancient times, it has been used to make jewelry, seals, inserts, vessels, and also as a material for carving images. Agates are easily amenable to artificial coloring and in jewelry they can be given a variety of colors, sometimes unnatural for natural agates. Agate has been known for a long time in Sumer and Ancient Egypt; it was used to make carved seals, amulets, and jewelry. Agate was used especially widely in the countries of the ancient Mediterranean for the manufacture of intaglios and gems (mainly two-color agate onyx).

Agate was also used as a gem material in the 16th-18th centuries. Agate, polished cabochon, is inserted into inexpensive jewelry and decorative arts. Light gray agates with a boring monotonous color are “ennobled” by artificially coloring them with carbon or metal salts.

Agate - SiO2

Molecular weight	60.08 g/mol
origin of name	The famous ancient scientist Pliny the Elder believed that the name comes from the Achates River (ancient Greek Ἀχάτης) in Sicily (possibly modern Karabi or Dirillo), another interpretation is from the Greek “ἀγαθός” - kind, good, happy.
IMA status	valid

Place of Birth

Agate is mined all over the world, found in sedimentary or volcanic rocks. Minerals of sedimentary rocks are mined by hand - scatterings of stones washed up on the banks of mountain rivers are collected. Other deposits are famous for their past volcanic activity. Nowadays, agates are mined using the mine method on the sites of extinct ancient volcanoes.

The territory of Russia is famous for several major deposits:

Ural mountains.
Chukotka.
Crimean peninsula (the basins of the Bodrak and Alma rivers, as well as the Kara-Dag primary deposit).
Moscow region (Prioksky district).
Magadan (Ola plateau).

In addition to the Russian Federation, agate is mined in the following territories:

Georgia.
Armenia.
Brazil.
Tajikistan.

Large placers were discovered in India, Mongolia, and Uruguay.

ORIGIN

Blue agate in section

Chalcedony and agate are found in various mineral associations, formed mainly in the late stages of volcanic processes associated with the outpouring of lava flows, including underwater, ash deposits. They are known in smaller quantities in low-temperature hydrothermal veins and associations that arise in surface conditions (in weathering crusts, sedimentary rocks, especially carbonate and clayey rocks). All this leads to a variety of geological and geochemical environments in which agate is observed and causes difficulties in elucidating the general and specific conditions of its formation and in systematically describing the mineralogical characteristics of agates.

At the same time, the bulk of commercial agate deposits are associated with volcanogenic complexes: mostly with basalts, and to a lesser extent with andesites. Numerous large agate occurrences in rhyolite covers are also known abroad; on the territory of Russia they are less significant, although they are found in many areas.

Agates in the form of tonsils (secretions) of various shapes and sizes are widespread in many effusive rocks - melaphyres, basalts, andesites, etc. (altered bubbly lavas). Their formation is associated with the circulation of concentrated colloidal solutions of silica in the last, final stage of hydrothermal activity.

To determine the temperature of agate formation, methods were used to determine the temperature from the isotopic composition of oxygen and from the aluminum content in quartz. The use of these methods made it possible to establish that the formation of agates under volcanogenic conditions occurs in the range of 60–200 °C. Along with this, experiments on the artificial synthesis of chalcedony do not exclude the possibility of agate formation in colder conditions. Thus, in sedimentary rocks (in the limestones of the Moscow region and many others) they crystallize from “meteor water”, the temperature of which could not exceed 20-30°C. Deposits are numerous, found in both igneous and sedimentary rocks. It is known in large quantities in the Urals (Magnitogorsk, Kamensk-Uralsky), the Ola plateau (Magadan region), the Timan Ridge, and in the Moscow region (Golutvin) - Russia. Also in Akhaltsikhe (Georgia), Ijevan (Armenia), Adrasman (Tajikistan), pcs. Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). Large placers are in Mongolia, Uruguay, India (Deccan Plateau).

Physical properties

Agate is a type of quartz, namely a chalcedony aggregate with thin fibers, a layered structure and striped color.

Property	Description
Formula	SiO2 (silica)
Hardness	6,5 — 7
Density	2.6 g/cm³
Kink	Uneven, conchoidal
Cleavage	Absent
singonia	Trigonal
Shine	Matte, bold
Transparency	Translucent or not transparent
Color	The whole palette (White, grey, blue, yellow, red, black). Characteristic banded zoning of flowers

This is interesting! Externally, agate looks like an inconspicuous pebble. Mosaic, star, striped and other patterns are revealed to the eye only on a fracture or cut of the stone.

A distinctive feature of the mineral is the clarity of the boundaries between the layers, as well as its resistance to any acids except hydrofluoric acid (a solution of hydrogen fluoride obtained from fluorspar).

Description of fire agate

Fire agate is a magical stone.
A stone of this color has a layered structure. It consists of many small bubbles of chalcedony, which are covered with a thin layer of a film of oxidized iron - goethite. Each of the quartz crystals that form the bubbles is transparent, but the stone does not appear so because it scatters and absorbs light.

Fire agate is born during the cooling of lava, when silica accretes.

The predominant color of the mineral is bright red, the surface is lined with stripes. In daylight, the stone plays with all the colors of the rainbow, which is due to the refraction of light rays.

The healing power of agate

Lithotherapists identify several areas in which the healing properties of the nugget specialize:

Tooth or stomach pain.
Insomnia, frequent nightmares.
Adsorbent effect for mild poisoning.
Providing assistance with frequent cramps, especially at night.
Mental disorders, stress.
Improves vision with regular wear.
Treatment of respiratory diseases.
Increases immunity, which reduces the likelihood of infectious diseases.

It is worth noting that these properties apply to all types of gems. Other subspecies of the mineral, as well as its independent varieties, are endowed with a number of individual medicinal functions. For example, moss, dendrite or flower agate have an antifungal effect if you bathe in a bath with such a stone. But pink agate eliminates bad habits, in particular smoking.

An important point is the location of the stone on the human body, since the effectiveness of treatment directly depends on this. Thus, the amulet, located near the heart, helps to normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system, also normalizing blood pressure.

Healing properties

In lithotherapy, agate is used to treat diseases such as:

stomach ulcer;
gastritis;
obesity;
ischemia.

During the period of exacerbation of the disease, the crystal must be applied to the sore spot.

Due to its positive effect on the nervous system, the stone is recommended to be worn by people experiencing stress or depression.

The gem also has a beneficial effect on tissue renewal and helps in the fight against bad habits. Thanks to the mineral, men can cope with impotence, and women can improve reproduction.

The stone has a beneficial effect on the body.

Magical properties of the mineral

Given the existing variety of agate varieties, it is quite difficult to generalize the magical power of this stone. Any effect on a person directly depends on the subtype of the mineral:

White agate symbolizes kindness, calmness, and confidence, endowing the owner with these qualities. It is also a children's talisman that can improve health and protect the child from the evil eye. To do this, the amulet is hung above the crib.

White Agate
Gems of red or brown colors have the ability to show the owner the real world, taking off the dreamer's rose-colored glasses. Since ancient times, such a stone was considered a talisman for travelers or sailors, helping the wanderer to return home. In addition, brown minerals are protectors from troubles. Such amulets focus on survival in case of danger. And red agate attracts love and family well-being to the owner.

Red and brown
The blue nugget is a talisman of creativity. This is the stone of artists, musicians, other artists, as well as timid and insecure individuals. This mineral helps you think clearly and promotes self-expression.

Blue
Black agate is a stone of magic. This is an assistant to people endowed with supernatural abilities, helping to establish contacts with higher dimensions, including the other world.

Black
Yellow-brown stones reveal the gift of persuasion in a person and increase charisma. Serves as a talisman during long journeys.

Yellow-brown
The green mineral makes the owner attractive to others, endowing him with good luck in matters related to asserting his rights.

Green
Purple stone is aimed at increasing concentration, which is necessary during meditation.

Violet
The pink mineral helps people who have experienced unhappiness in love or other life shocks. By healing heart wounds, the stone restores the internal harmony of the owner, helping to find happiness in the future.

Pink
Gray agate favors down-to-earth individuals who seek themselves not in lofty matters, but in simpler ones - the desire to succeed in their career, accumulate finances, etc. The stone helps the owner concentrate his attention on the tasks at hand.

Grey
Blue mineral (sapphirite), on the contrary, is a stone of romantic natures who do not tolerate everyday routine. Such a talisman helps the owner cope with difficulties, pointing out the positive aspects of seemingly boring everyday things.

Blue

Thus, agate is a mineral that directs all the energy of the Earth to protect, calm, direct thoughts and concentrate the owner’s attention. With such a talisman, a person will be able to mentally encounter the real world, leaving the world of dreams, and achieve his goals under the reliable magical protection of the gem.

Agate stone - what is the benefit for humans?

Natural stone is considered an effective talisman and is used in a wide variety of areas of life:

Protects against slander and gossip. It is able to provide invisible protection from negative energy, absorbing its negative manifestations. You should always carry the stone with you, and when you come to your home, be sure to thank it for helping.
The gem gives strength of spirit, calms, prolongs life, attracts good luck.
It is believed that the stone can protect against alcoholism and drug addiction, that it drives away bad thoughts.
If you put a stone under your pillow at night, you can see a beautiful, good dream.
Black agate can give its owner power over the power of darkness.
The layered mineral makes a man attractive in the eyes of the fairer sex
Moss agates normalize immunity
In ancient times, the gem was considered the favorite stone of the goddess Pomona, so it was laid out to increase the harvest.
For people with clairvoyant abilities, the magic of the mineral will help to fully reveal them. The power that the gem possesses promotes harmony.
The mineral is good to use during meditation. If you look at this stone for a long period, then calm and peace will come.

Agate stone is a talisman of love. If loving hearts are to be separated, taking such amulets with them can help keep feelings at a distance.

The magic of agate manifests itself differently depending on its color:

White agate, a stone that helps you become more confident, softer and calmer. It is able to protect against dark forces, so it is often used as a talisman for children.
Gray is a true fighter for justice. The person who wears it can achieve success in business; the gem eliminates anger and other negative emotions.
The blue mineral will bring love and tenderness to the owner.
Yellow will help in trade matters. The jewelry must be put on before concluding a serious transaction. Yellow agate also has a positive effect on the family and maintains mutual understanding with loved ones.
Black is considered the most powerful of all varieties. It gives a person incredible willpower, the desire to live and achieve goals, and gives perseverance. Also, the black mineral protects the person who wears it from evil fate. But you can’t wear the talisman all the time; it can cause depression.
Green agate protects family and home. This type should be placed at the entrance doors before entering a new home.

Compatibility with other stones

Agate will make a good pair with stones of its earthly element, or with Water minerals:

Jasper;
Morion;
Cacholong;
Lapis lazuli;
Nephritis;
Malachite;
Emerald;
Chrysolite;
Opal;
Aventurine.

With air stones the combination will be neutral – neither harmful nor beneficial:

Sapphire;
Topaz;
Amethyst;
Rock crystal;
Blue chalcedony;
Smoky quartz.

A categorical “No” to all minerals of the fire element, especially:

Grenade;
Pyrope;
Rubin;
Coral;
Almaz (diamond).

In general, agate is a peace-loving mineral that is not characterized by arrogance or unfriendliness towards its neighbors.

Mining and stone processing

Fire agate is mined in Arizona (US state) and Mexico. Only in these places are crystals of rich colors found that do not require additional coloring - this is how they differ from stones from other deposits.

Each mined gem is processed by hand - this is due to the fragility and unique structure of this mineral. The glassy sheen appears due to the refraction of rays on sharp edges, so round cuts are not used.

After the mineral is given the chosen shape, it is polished. This is a crucial moment that requires dexterity and caution from the master: if you accidentally destroy the bubbles, the gem will lose its appearance and shape.

Jewelry with mineral

Agate is widely distributed in nature. The stone does not have much value and is considered ornamental. The price per gram of mineral starts from 2 US dollars. More valuable specimens cost tens of times more, but such rarities add to the collection of collectors' specimens.

Most often, the mineral is cut into a cabochon, but there are specimens that have only undergone polishing. You won't find expensive jewelry with agate on the market. This is not a precious mineral, so beautiful low-cost jewelry is made from it:

the price of beads starts from 1300 rubles, depending on the color of the mineral, length, diameter of the cabochons;
an agate bracelet costs from 800 rubles;
the pendant can be purchased for 200 rubles and more;
a ring made of solid agate will cost from 800 rubles, and a silver jewelry with a cabochon will cost from 2000;
earrings made of an alloy with agates start at 700 rubles, silver ones – from 3000, and for an insert made of landscape agate with an unusual pattern you can pay up to 5 thousand rubles, considering that the base will be an alloy and not a precious metal;
the rosary reaches 2 thousand rubles.

From large pieces of mineral, stone cutters create beautiful boxes, figurines, and any decorative items. There are small enterprises specializing in the production of amulets and talismans.

Where is the stone mined and how is it processed?

Agate is a common gemstone. There are many places to get it. There are several deposits in Russia:

Magadan;
Chukotka;
Crimea;
Priochye;
Ural.

Rich deposits are also found in other countries:

Armenia;
Tajikistan:
Georgia;
Ukraine;
Uruguay;
Germany;
Mongolia;
India;
Brazil;
Hungary (Hungarian agate);
Africa.

The found agates are carefully studied and then cut into pieces. After this, they are given the desired shape, ground and polished with diamond.

Agate is easy to work with. When processing it, jewelers use all known types of cutting; the most unusual specimens are given fantasy shapes.

Varieties of mineral

Nature has endowed agate with a variety of shades. Varieties of the mineral are determined by the combination of colors. The main color from a large number of stripes is considered to be the shade that prevails over the rest. Among the main colors are:

brown;
blue (cyan);
pink;
green;
yellow-brown;
grey;
all red shades or carmine;
white;
white-brown;
white-blue;
yellow;
violet.

A rare variety is black agate.

In addition to color classification, agates differ in the pattern on the fracture or cut of the mineral. Nature has endowed the subspecies of this stone with extraordinary patterning. Different elements in the chemical composition of the gem form on the cut various patterns of landscapes, outlines of ancient ruins, tree branches or fossilized moss.

Interestingly, the fracture of some specimens resembles the shells of ancient mollusks. And sometimes the remains of prehistoric cephalopods are actually found in the composition of such a mineral.

So, according to the pattern on the cut, the following varieties of agate are distinguished:

banded;
stellate (or starry);
moss moss (pattern of black moss on a light background);
landscape (or landscape);
dendrite (has a pattern reminiscent of forest thickets);
bastion (or ruin);
disk;
frosty;
floral (you can see an unusual flower on the break);
iridescent;
rainbow;
fiery.

Some subspecies of agate are considered independent minerals with their own names. These include:

sardonyx - a stone with alternating layers of red, carmine, orange and yellow, often forming star or pupil patterns;
onyx is a contrasting mineral that combines white layers with brighter, more saturated colors, such as brown or blue;
Sapphirine is a rare variety of blue color.

This classification is far from complete. Each deposit gives miners more and more new specimens of unusual colors and amazing patterns.

How to distinguish a fake?

The risk of purchasing fake agate or its varieties is minimized. The prevalence and low cost of the stone do not justify such actions. A mineral refined through exposure to chemical solutions is not considered a fake. However, if you still want to buy a natural mineral with minimal processing, you should pay attention to the color of the stone - “poisonous” rich shades are not characteristic of natural agate.

Black agates are a rarer variety, so their imitation is often made from stone chips. It is very difficult to recognize such a fake with the naked eye. Try scratching glass with a stone or glass with a stone. Any natural agate is heavier and harder than glass. And even more so plastics.

As for a bracelet or beads, such a product will significantly weigh down the hand - natural minerals are weighty, and it is not without reason that they belong to the element of the Earth.

Combinations of fire agate and other minerals

Astrologers advise combining the mineral with aquamarine, amethyst and garnet - it will enhance their properties. Magicians claim that the crystal is well compatible with moonstone and turquoise, which complement its power. Jewelers note that agate looks beautiful with emerald in jewelry.

It is not recommended to combine it with beryl and malachite - the gems will conflict.

A powerful combination of agate and moonstone.

How to wear jewelry?

First of all, you should pay attention to the time chosen to purchase agate jewelry. A distinctive feature of agate from other minerals is its independence from lunar phases. You don't need to wait a while to buy it and another couple of weeks to wear it. However, this gem still has one feature.

Agate must be purchased on a certain day of the week. This mineral loves “masculine” days – Thursday, Monday and Tuesday. Then the strength of the stone will be many times higher than the properties of a mineral purchased on Friday, Saturday or Wednesday. These days are considered “women’s days”.

It is important! Buying a talisman on Friday may be an exception if the owner of the amulet is a magician or psychic who uses the stone for rituals. For such purposes, black or purple gems are purchased.

It is strictly forbidden to purchase a talisman on Sunday - a day symbolizing rest, not work. In this case, the amulet will be fickle, capricious, and lead the owner astray from the intended correct path.

You can wear agate at any time, without contraindications. You just have to take into account the peculiarities of combining agate jewelry with other minerals. A stone that has been “ennobled” during processing should not be worn in the scorching sun. Agate jewelry goes well with a casual look and light makeup.

Stone jewelry and wearing rules

Jewelry is also made from agate. The gem is framed in gold, silver, cupronickel, brass and copper.

Agate is also used to make beads, bracelets and earrings without metal frames. Rarely is the stone combined with platinum.

Agate jewelry is worn both on special occasions and on an ongoing basis.

It is not recommended to wear such jewelry on the beach, as in this case the gem may fade.

Please watch an informative video about stone and jewelry:

Caring for agate and products

Agate is cared for in the same way as any other gem. Here are the basic rules:

Products with agate are stored in a separate box or together with other jewelry in an individual bag.
If the stone has lost its shine, wash it with warm water and soap. After this, polish with a soft cloth.
To prevent the stone from tarnishing, do not leave it in the sun for a long time.

Rules of care

Agate is very durable, but the mineral absorbs dirt like a sponge due to its porous structure. It is easy to care for this product:

It is necessary to limit the presence of jewelry in a damp and dirty environment.
Wipe the gems with a dry cloth as often as possible, and if necessary, wash them in a light soapy solution.
Long-term exposure to direct sunlight is undesirable, especially on “ennobled stone”.

A few simple steps and care will save this inexpensive, but unique and unusual decoration.

Storage and care

To prevent the stone from losing its attractive appearance, you need to care for it by following these rules:

Once a month, the crystal is washed under running cool water, after carefully rubbing the surface with soap. To do this, use your fingers - hard brushes can ruin the decoration.
Store the gem in a closed case, which will protect from dust, dirt and aggressive sunlight.

Agate should be handled with care - it does not tolerate sudden changes in temperature and, despite its hardness, is fragile, so it can break if dropped or mechanically impacted.

Compatibility with names and Zodiac

If you choose an agate talisman, it is important to find out whether it suits your name and horoscope. Agate does not have any preferences in terms of the personal qualities of the owner, so such a talisman can be safely chosen based on compatibility by Zodiac or name.

Names

Agate, as well as its independent varieties, are excellent for people named by the following names:

Zhanna. Onyx is perfect for her, as it wards off troubles and promotes proper concentration and energy direction.
Anatoly. The gem will bring him good luck, awaken his imagination, help him make decisions, protecting him from deceit.
Clara. Agate will protect such a girl from deception, give her peace of mind, and strengthen her body and mind.
Dmitriy. The mineral will help this man to suppress outbursts of rage and find a way out that is more suitable in the current situation.
Lyudmila. For her, agate is a symbol of kindness, gentleness, calmness, and a protector of physical health.
Makar. Onyx can protect him from dangers. This mineral will give Dmitry inner harmony, relieving him of depression and dark thoughts.

Zodiac signs

Astrologers clearly attribute agate to the patrons of Cancer, Taurus and Gemini.

(“+++” – the stone fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – is strictly contraindicated):

Zodiac sign	Compatibility
Aries	—
Taurus	+++
Twins	+++
Cancer	+++
a lion	+
Virgo	+
Scales	+
Scorpion	+
Sagittarius	—
Capricorn	+
Aquarius	+
Fish	+

For vulnerable, suspicious and insecure Cancers, agate will become a source of peace and tranquility, weakening the negative character traits of the owner. The talisman will awaken creativity in representatives of this sign, while at the same time imparting confidence and protecting against nervous strain.
Taurus will become more patient and learn to control sudden outbursts of anger. The blue variety of agate is suitable for boring and slow representatives of the Taurus family, making them more active. But the black gem will help you gain determination to achieve your goals, as well as strengthen the financial position of those who love wealth.
Gemini needs agate as a sedative, since Geminis are often absent-minded and cannot make important decisions because of this. Agate will give constancy to changeable representatives of the sign, directing endless vital energy to achieve their chosen values.

In addition to the “chosen ones,” agate suits all other horoscope signs, except Aries and Sagittarius, you just need to choose your color variety. For example, Virgo and Taurus are suitable for stones of pink and red shades, and Cancer - blue or gray. Rare black agate will become a faithful companion of Scorpios.

Note

A unique agate will become a faithful companion and a reliable amulet for any person. This stone does not require any leadership abilities or persistent character from a person. He will simply support, protect, guide the good and muffle the bad.

A friendly nugget is endowed with so many invaluable abilities that it is simply impossible not to notice. And even if this mineral does not rank with the jewels of this world - it is unprepossessing on the outside and so beautiful on the inside, agate carries a special noble value.

5 / 5 ( 2 voices)

Fire agate in jewelry

Jewelers create many different types of jewelry from the fiery variety of chalcedony:

bracelets;
rings;
pendants;
brooches

Jewelry such as beads is not made from this mineral, since they will be expensive and look unpresentable. Precious metals are used as frames: silver or gold, less often copper.

Fire agate in a gold frame.