Description
Agate is a transparent, but sometimes opaque, variety of quartz and a subvariety of chalcedony. Its chemical structure is identical to jasper, flint, and chert, and it is often found together with opal. The colorful, striped specimens are used as semiprecious 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 chalcedony stones were found. Traditionally, agate was worn as a lucky stone or for healing.
In 2015, agate became a hot commodity again due to its forensic applications in the field of fingerprints, which easily release their DNA onto agate.
• Agate was also used to make consumer goods such as buttons. Agate is believed to have several medicinal properties, including protection during pregnancy, headaches, skin conditions, and balance disorders.
• According to various literature, agate is associated with the zodiac signs Aquarius, Taurus, Scorpio, and Gemini. Agate compounds form as a solution of silica in cavities in older rocks. The main 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 region of Germany.
Agate
