Agate Meaning, Benefits, Healing Properties & Uses

Crystal Guide 

 

Metaphysical Properties and Purposes, Spiritual, Mental, Emotional and Physical Healing Energies, Uses, Chakra Energy, Meditation, Color Energy, Care, Cleansing, Charging, Programming, Legends, Fun Facts, History, Feng Shui and More...

What is Agate? 

Agate is a semiprecious stone and a type of chalcedony, which is a fine-grained variety of quartz. Agate is known for its dramatic bands of color and transparency, which are caused by microscopic inclusions of iron and manganese oxide minerals in the quartz.

Agates are commonly found in cavities in volcanic and metamorphic rocks, where silica-rich water deposits quartz crystals in layers parallel to the cavity wall. They can be found all over the world, including in Minnesota, where glaciers have dispersed them into gravel banks along rivers and streams, and on beaches along lakes.

Agate's toughness and beauty make it a popular gemstone for lapidaries, who use it for carvings, beads, and cabochons. It's also a brilliant choice for unique handmade jewelry designs. Usually banded in layers, or stripes, some varieties have "eye" markings, or specks of color, some have fossilized inclusions, and others are solid. The layered bands of microscopic quartz in Agate may appear delicate, they are actually very strong.

Agates can be white, gray, yellow-ish-brown, reddish-brown, blue, black, or green, and each agate is unique.
Called the earth rainbow, the concentric bands of Agate form in nearly every color the earth can produce, including a colorless form. When exposed to bright light, agate's inner beauty reveals itself in brilliantly translucent, beautifully banded, vivid patterns. It’s hidden interior boasting bright colors and shapes that are mesmerizing to the eye.

 Types of Agates

Agate comes in a variety of types that each have their own unique charm and are found all around the world. They bring a wonder and magic to the planet with their swirls of color bands. We have captured the metaphysical properties of several of the most popular ones in separate pages, just follow the link provided with each type.

 

Black Agate

 

Blue Lace Agate

 

 
Botswana Agate aka Banded or Stripe Agate

 

 

Carnelian Agate

 

Crazy Lace Agate

Dendritic Agate

 

Dragon Vein Agate

 

Dream Fire Agate

 

Fire Agate

 

Indian Agate

 

Moss Agate

 

Tree Agate