Description
Copper agate is a special, unique agate found in Germany. It is well-known in the Fischbach mine, but it also occasionally surfaces in Saxony. Ours is a unique find from Saxony.
Agate is a transparent, but sometimes also opaque, variety of quartz and a subvariety of chalcedony. The chemical structure of agate is identical to jasper, flint, and hornstone, and it is often found together with opal. The colorful, striped specimens are used as semi-precious stones. The name agate comes from the Greek Ἀχάτης, Achatès, the name of the present-day Dirillo River in southern Sicily, where agates and other chalcedonies were found. Traditionally, agate was worn as a lucky stone or for healing. Utensils such as buttons were also made from agate. A number of medicinal properties are attributed to agate, such as protection during pregnancy, relief from headaches, skin conditions, and balance disorders. According to various literature, agate is associated with the zodiac signs Aquarius, Taurus, Scorpio, and Gemini. Agate formations occur as a solution of silicic acid in cavities in older rocks. The stones can be artificially stained to obtain color combinations that are more vibrant than those found in nature. The major sources of agate are Brazil, Uruguay, and the United States (Oregon, Washington, and around Lake Superior). Closer to the Netherlands and Belgium, agate is also found in the Hunsrück in Germany.
Chemical composition: SiO2 + Al, Ca, Fe, Mn Crystal system: belongs to chalcedony-like quartz crystals, trigonal. Cleavage: none. Color: light blue or gray, but it can also be green. Streak color: none. Luster: vitreous, matte, silky. Hardness (Mohs): 6.5 to 7. Average density: 2.65 kg/dm³. Transparency: transparent to translucent.
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a red/yellow transition metal and in its unalloyed form is also known as copper. Excavations in northern what is now Iraq have shown that copper was used as early as 8700 BC.[1] Other excavations indicate that copper was being smelted and isolated from copper-bearing minerals such as malachite and azurite as early as 5000 BC. The Sumerians and Egyptians are known to have smelted copper and used it to make bronze around 3000 BC. The use of copper was also known in China, and very high-quality bronze objects dating back to 1200 BC have been found. The mummy of Ötzi, found in 1991 in the Austrian-Italian Alps, who is believed to have died around 3300 BC, carried tools made of 99.7% pure copper. In mythology and alchemy, copper was often associated with the deity Aphrodite because of its beautiful sheen. For this reason, copper was once used for mirrors, among other things. The name copper comes from the Latin word cuprum. This word is derived from "aes cyprium," meaning "ore of Cyprus." Copper was mined on Cyprus in ancient times. The main sources of copper are the minerals chalcopyrite, chalcocite, covellite, azurite, malachite, and bornite. These are found in abundance in the earth's crust. Major deposits of copper ore are Chile, Peru, and the United States. Approximately one-third of all copper is mined in Chile. Indonesia has seen the strongest growth in copper production over the past decade and was the fourth-largest producer in 2009. The main users of copper are China, Germany, and the United States. Global copper consumption in 2009 was 18.4 million tons. Mine production was 15.8 million tons, and recycling brought the total supply to 18.6 million tons. Demand is growing faster than supply, causing inventories to decline. On February 4, 2011, the price of copper reached a record high of $10,000 per tonne.[2] The same Financial Times article reported that demand will significantly exceed supply in 2011, leading to further price increases. Copper is traded on various international exchanges, including London, New York, and Shanghai.
