Agate

Agate is another form of quartz in which micro porosity is present in the structure. This allows for coloration treatments. Agate is related to quartz's many forms such as jasper, onyx, sardonyx, carnelian, chrysoprase and chalcedony. However, it can be found in geodes and rock crystals as striped, banded, or multi-colored in either transparent or opaque colors. It is also not uncommon to find it in circular patterns. These are called Bull's eye agates. Agate's natural colors range from white to gray to black and also from pale red to brown. Blue, green, and lavender are also found.
Fire agate is another type of unusual agate slowly making a rebirth into fine jewelry. It resembles opal, but with a lustrous deep brown background. It was considered very valuable to ancient civilizations because it was thought a stone of great power. Fire agate, as legend holds, gives the wearer strength of heart, contentment, lightheartedness, and the ability to always tell the truth. With a hardness of 7 to 7.5, agates were deeply worshipped by the Egyptians as mysterious stones that helped control man's emotional world. Agates were especially prized for usage by the scribes as seals for scrolls. Their usage as seals outlasted the softer clay seals used by earlier dynasties. We welcome you to stop in and see our unusual agates at Ralph Miller Jewelers.

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