Birthstone Chart

Stone Color Chart

HISTORICAL INFORMATION AND USES
The name agate is from an old locality on the achate river in southwestern Sicily.

Agate has been used as gemstones and other ornamental objects for thousands of years.

In medieval times, the wearing of agate was said to bring God's favor and make one agreeable and persuasive, giving victory and strength to the wearer and protection from all dangers. Wearing agate was also thought to give pleasant dreams and cure insomnia.
Early Greeks made amulets of agate for protection from the elements of the sea. 23

Some of the earliest primitive stone tools (axes) fashioned by man's ancestors 2.5 million years ago in the Omo valley in Ethiopia, were made of quartz varieties such as agate. These materials were used because of their hardness and their isotropic brittleness which made it possible to shape the tools with relative ease.

The astrological sign of agate is gemini.
Agate is a birthstone for the month of May.
Agate is the symbolic gemstone for the 12th wedding anniversary.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Agate is said to enhance one's perceptiveness and to stimulate analytical capacity, and to provide balance between one's physical, emotional, intelectual and spiritual states. Agate is also said to alleviate hostilities and promote goodwill.

Agate is said to help treat disorders of the pancreas and to improve circulation.

QUARTZ (Agate) BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Agate is a cryptocrystalline variety of the mineral Quartz (SiO2). Quartz is the most abundant single mineral on earth. It makes up about 12% of the earth's crust, occurring in a wide variety of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

Quartz varieties are commonly separated into two groups based on the size of the individual grains or crystals; macrocrystalline quartz in which individual crystals are distinguishable with the naked eye, and cryptocrystalline quartz in which the individual crystals are too small to be easily distinguishable under the light microscope.

OCCURRENCE AND DIAGNOSTIC FEATURES
Agate is a variety of chalcedony, which is the general term applied to fibrous cryptocrystalline quartz varieties. It is a mineral generally of secondary origin, forming in cavities and veins by deposition from meteoric groundwater containing gelatinous silica from the weathering of silicate minerals. It can also form by deposition from late hydrothermal solutions at or near the earth's surface under conditions of low temperature and low pressure. Agate is commonly associated with siliceous volcanics, occurring as vein or vesicle filling. It occurs as a petrifying agent in fossil wood and bone. Agate is frequently found lining or filling rock cavities and fissures, sometimes forming geodes.

Agate is characterized by its occurance, hardness, fracture, specific gravity, refractive index and luster.

This blushing gemstone is one of the most desirable varieties of quartz. The unique pink-to-rose-red color is caused by iron and titanium impurities in the natural stone. However, ours (and most on the market) has been dyed to maintain a uniform color. Beads of rose quartz have been found in Mesopotamia that date back to 7000 B.C. It is said that the Assyrians and the Romans were the first to use it. In ancient Rome, rose quartz was popular for making seals, which were used in clay or various dyes to show ownership or identify authors. Often called the "love stone," rose quartz is said to open the heart chakra to all forms of love: self-love, family love, platonic love and romantic love. Emotionally, the gemstone is believed to bring gentleness, forgiveness, compassion, kindness and tolerance, raise the self-esteem and remove fears, resentments and anger. Some also say it can heal and release childhood traumas, neglect and lack of love, in part by enhancing inner awareness. It is attributed the power to help with reconciliation with family and ease overwhelming or unreasonable guilt. Physically, the gemstone is used to benefit the heart, circulatory system, fertility, headaches, kidney disease, migraines, sexual dysfunction, sinus problems, throat problems, depression, addictions and ear aches. Rose quartz is found in Madagascar, Brazil, India, Germany and several parts of the U.S.A.
This gemstone is believed to be excellent for grounding and removing negativity. It is said to enhance survival instincts and help one reach personal and business goals, as well as assisting in making wishes come true. Many use smoky quartz to treat problems associated with the lower torso, including kidneys, abdomen, pancreas and reproductive organs. They say it also is good for dealing with hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder.

This gemstone is believed to be excellent for grounding and removing negativity. It is said to enhance survival instincts and help one reach personal and business goals, as well as assisting in making wishes come true. Many use smoky quartz to treat problems associated with the lower torso, including kidneys, abdomen, pancreas and reproductive organs. They say it also is good for dealing with hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder.

Metaphysical Properties of Agate
Agate comes in reds, browns, yellows, oranges, and blacks, sometimes with banding, stripes or zoning. Agate is good protective stone, especially for children. It also can help strengthen the body and the body's connection to the earth. It can also lessen feelings of envy by grounding the emotions. Agate balances the physical, emotional and intellectual bodies, and balances and cleanses aura. Agate is known to stimulate analytical abilities and perception, while eliminating negativity. It has also been reported to strengthen sight and promote marital fidelity.

Agate is a banded, concentric shell-like chalcedony, sometimes containing opal substance. The fine quartz fibers are oriented vertically to the surface of the individual band layers. The bands can be multicolored or of the same color. South American Agate is mostly dull gray and without special markings; only through dyeing do they receive their lively colors. Transparency of Agates varies from nearly transparent to opaque. In thin slabs, even the opaque Agates are mostly translucent. The name Agate is supposedly derived from the river Achates (now called the Drillo) in Sicily.
Agate is a member of the Chalcedony family. It is a banded stone with a somewhat waxy appearance and is often transparent at the center. It overcomes bitterness of the heart and eliminates inner anger. Agate fosters love, opening the way for positive relationships!

Amazonite
Opens creativity, helps one to speak truth and communicate clearly

Amber
Calming stone, stress reliever. Mental clarity, mood balancer, joy, humor, confidence. Detoxification and protection from radiation.

Amethyst
Spiritual awareness, dreaming, dispels nightmares, protection, known as the sobriety stone, helps break bad habits.

Angelite
Regenerates and rejuvenates ill or degenerative areas of the body, enhances creativity. Excellent for spiritual guidance.

Apatite
Highly psychic, good for communication, intellect. Controls weight gain.

Aquamarine
Stone of Courage, Intellectual acuteness, banishes fears, calms nerves, imparts strength and control.

Aventurine
Green; Good luck, abundance, adventures in travel, healing heart and emotions. Independence and career changes.

Black Onyx
Stress and grief reliever. Enhances self-control and mental clarity. Encourages happiness, good fortune and morality.

Black Tourmaline
Deflects negativity, calms. grounds, reduces anger, protection shield.

Bloodstone
Childbirth, stops bleeding, inflammations, balances emotions, grounding, neutralizes and eliminates toxins.

Blue Lace Agate
Strengthens sight, diminishes thirst, promotes marital fidelity. Good for treatment of arthritic conditions and strengthening skeletal structure.

Botswana Agate
Enhances creativity and abstract thinking, stimulates and energizes crown charka and auric body.

Calcopyrite
Increases memory, concentration, spiritual and physical ability for students.

Carnelian
Reproduction, sexuality, menstrual cramps, lungs, asthma, arthritis, creative visualization, stimulates emotions.

Chrysocolla
Eases emotional heartache, balances emotions, stimulates creativity, PMS, menstrual cramps, asthma, digestion.

Chrysoprase
Balancing of Yin-Yang energies activates and opens heart charka, compassion, connection with the trinity. Helps to heal a broken heart. Fidelity in business and personal affairs.

Citrine
Self-esteem, joy, clear thinking, activates solar plexus, merchants stone, brings more cash to cash drawer.

Dolomite
Relieves sorrow, everything happens for a reason, encourages original thinking.

Dumorterite
Eliminates stubbornness, patience, stimulates verbalization of spiritual ideas.

Elestials
Gift from the Angels Overcome emotional burdens, activates memory, contains wisdom and records, expanded awareness, assists in mass cleaning.

Emerald
Stone of Successful Love domestic bliss, stimulates heart charka, harmony, fidelity, joy, all healing.

Epidot
Strengthens overall health, heart, well-being, energy, courage, stamina. Enhances that which you attune it to.

Fluorite
Focusing and centering, assists in balance while working on computers, genius stone, ability to concentrate, bones.

Garnet
Sexuality, assists in taking action, stone of commitment, stimulates kundalini.

Hematite
Calming, high blood pressure, transforms negativity, muscle cramping, nervous disorders and insomnia.

Infinite
The healers stone. Assists in all areas of the bodya must for those in need of pain relief. Works especially well on bad joints, muscles and connective tissue. Imparts strength through gentleness and tenderness.

Jade
Health, wealth and longevity stone. Promotes emotional balance, courage, wisdom and dreams. Protects from injury and accidents.

Labradorite
Magnifies persons strengths, originality, and relationship with others. Opens energy flow to centers most in need.

Lapis Lazuli
Stone of total awareness, activates throat, third eye and crown charkas, emotional balancing, PMS, protection, insomnia, dreaming, womens healing, depression, infections.

Leopard Skin Jasper
Supreme Nurturer, protection during travel and from negativity, grounding, facilitates safe astral travel.

Lepidolite
Contains lithium mica, balances mood swing, depression, helps ground one when scattered, self-love, trust stability.

Magnesite
Motivation, visualization, grounds intellect, cell purification, convulsions, bones and teeth, lessens PMS.

Malachite
Clears emotional blocks, eyesight, absorbs negativity, digestion, diabetes, hypoglycemia, fidelity, ease childbirth.

Moonstone
Balancing, connect with feelings, emotional tension, travelers stone, PMS, menopause, insomnia, dreaming.

Moss Agate
Improves ego and self-esteem, emotional balancing and strengthening of positive personality traits, agreeability, and persuasiveness.

Petrified Wood
Connection to Earth and Nature. Rids one of petty annoyances, provides strength, grounding and insight. Powerful meditation stone.

Phantom Quartz
Universal awareness, past lives, emotional healing.

Quartz
Clear; transmits and transduces thoughts and energy, amplifies thoughts and intentions, helps focus energy, activates.

Rainbow Jasper
Energizes life force, rejuvenates, promotes unselfishness. Gives courage, wisdom, and protection from stress. Attracts good fortune.

Rainbow Obsidian
Stone of Pleasure Enlightens ones life with light and love. A gazing tool for love interests, relationships and development of etheric and physical forms.

Red Jasper
Promotes independence, responsibility, and progression. Facilitates in remembering dreams.

Rhodocrosite
Stone of Love and Balance Strong, electrical energy emitting the strongest power in the universe.the power of love. Emotional balancing that provides stability to the mind. Stimulates energies of the body toward maintaining good health.

Rhodonite
Heart Stone Calms and feeds soul through the heart. Promotes self-assuredness, helps one achieve greatest potential. Relieves stress, heartache and loss.

Rose Quartz
Stone of Gentle Love Peace, calming, nurturing, balances emotions, heals emotional wounds, skin and cell rejuvenation.

Rutilated Quartz
Activating, energizes, joy, helps one take action, stabilizes relationships, mental processes, dispels interference.

Serpentine
Renders assistance to disorders in all areas of the body, the emotional system, and mental structure.

Smoky Quartz
Collects scattered energies, dissolves negative energies, emotional blockages, protection, stone of cooperation.

Snowflake Obsidian
Stone of Purity grounding, balancing to the body, mind and spirit.

Sodalite
Stabilizes mental and emotional processes, PMS, cramps, clears old patterns, migraines and headaches, wisdom.

Tiger Eye
Sharpens perception, focus and clarity. Increases self-awareness, balances and brings prosperity, discipline for sexual and emotional life, bringing light where practicality is needed.

Tektite
Stimulates communication, thought amplifier. Wisdom through life experiences. Prevents emotional scars.

Tourmalinated Quartz
Helps to clear, maintain and stimulate each of the bodys energy centers. Inspiration, understanding and self-confidence.

Unakite
Balances the emotional body, align with spirituality, stimulates healthy pregnancies.

Yellow Jasper
Protection Stone Balances the yin-yang energy, stabilizes the aura, rejuvenates, gives courage and wisdom, relieves pain and suffering.

Zebra Jasper
Meditation and centering. Relieves stress, increases appreciation for joy of life. Stimulates transition to astral plane.