Description

Natural Blue Agate Geode
Druzy Slice Extra Large Gemstone

Natural blue agate geode specifications:

✓ Size: 148 x 128 x 6 mm
✓ Weight: 185g

Information on Agate

Agate is one of the most common materials used in the art of hardstone carving, and has been recovered at a number of ancient sites, indicating its widespread use in the ancient world; for example, archaeological recovery at the Hongshan Neolithic site in China, Knossos site on Crete illustrating its role in Bronze Age Minoan culture or the pre-Pharaon Egypt Kingdom excavations

Most agates occur as nodules in volcanic rocks or ancient lavas where they represent cavities originally produced by the disengagement of volatiles in the molten mass which were then filled, wholly or partially, by siliceous matter deposited in regular layers upon the walls. Agate has also been known to fill veins or cracks in volcanic or altered rock underlain by granitic intrusive masses.

Such agates, when cut transversely, exhibit a succession of parallel lines, often of extreme tenuity, giving a banded appearance to the section. Such stones are known as banded agate, riband agate and striped agate.

Decorative and gemstone industry uses agates chiefly to make ornaments such as pins, brooches, paper knives, inkstands, marbles and seals. Agate was also used for decorative displays, cabochons, beads, carvings and Intarsia art as well as face-polished and tumble-polished specimens of varying size and origin.

The broad specter of natural colors such as different shades of blue, red, orange, grey, black and white (banded, striped or uni) were often seized by craftsmen to be used in jewelry and ornamental wear.

The “skin” of the agate, is generally a dark greenish mineral substance, like celadonite, delessite or “green earth”, which are rich in iron probably derived from the decomposition of the augite in the enclosing volcanic rock. This green silicate may give rise by alteration to a brown iron oxide (limonite), producing a rusty appearance on the outside of the agate-nodule.

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