Handmade jewelry - agates

To write about agates is a little like writing about dogs. There are so many different kinds and they are found just about everywhere in the world. They may look different, but they're still agates.

I've always liked agates and have often carried "lucky agates" and have given many "lucky agates" to my husband to carry around. He usually loses his, and then I have to go back to the rock shop and buy him another one. Since I love going to the rock shop this is not a sacrifice.

Banded agates are my favorite, but agates have all sorts of patterns. Agates also occur in just about every color. They are one of natures most beautiful creations - but there are so many! Nature has done an excellent job!

All agates are a form of chalcedony, which is a form of quartz. They're formed in cavities of eruptive rocks or ancient lavas. They are formed in layers, which causes the banding, but many different patterns can occur, depending on the geological process. This formation can take from decades to thousands of years.

Agate was highly valued by ancient civilizations. It was discovered with the remains of Stone Age man in France dated 20,000 - 16,000 B.C. The ancient Egyptians used it prior to 3000 B.C.

Throughout history agates were used as a talisman or amulet. Agates are said to improve the confidence, strength, courage and vitality of the wearer. They are also believed to treat various physical ailments.

There are agates that are fairly common and agates that are quite rare. The Snake River agate is found in one area of southwestern Idaho and you hardly ever see it. When I purchased the Diablo Canyon agate, above, I tried to find information about it. I could find none at all! So I suspect the Diablo Canyon agate is quite rare.

Agates have a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness, with 10 being the hardest.So when you are wearing a pair of crazy lace agate earrings, or a Diablo Canyon agate necklace, you are indeed wearing an ancient artifact. An antique, of sorts. Who knows how old it is? As old as the Earth!