A semiprecious gemstone, this one is quite unique in my opinion, as it comes in a multitude of shades and colors - actually, there is hardly any shade or tint that is not included in its specter, therefore if you like agates, then you should definitely search for those in your favorite color, because you will find them sooner or later. Furthermore, due to its particular formation process, it usually presents stripes and bands appearing in curved or irregular patterns and different colors, from this diversity of tones and shapes arising its beauty and charm.

Formation. The usually rounded form of the original stone and the stripes or bands patterned on it are a testimony of the formation process of the agate. Even though there are five or more ways in which a particular agate can be naturally formed, it usually occurs in volcanic rocks or ancient lavas. Inside these natural hosts, the semi-precious stones form as round nodules, by filling cavities.

Variety. Agates are a type of chalcedonic quartz and due to the fact that they come in a wide range of colors and patterns, there is a great variety of these semiprecious stones out there, from which one can choose the one with the most captivating appearance. To give you just a couple of examples, you can always opt for moss, iris, fire, landscape (fortification), blue lace, plume, tube, crazy-lace agates etc.

History. A very versatile and hard gemstone, the agate has fascinated mankind ever since it was first discovered and extracted from the Achates River in Sicily, over 3,000 years ago. Obviously, its name comes from the place from which it has been primarily obtained. Nowadays, agates are extracted and obtained from various places, where they are found in diverse patterns and hues - Australia, Canada, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Greek/Sicily area of the Mediterranean, Botswana etc.

Uses. Agates have both practical and ornamental uses, but at present they are mostly used for the latter purposes, embedded in precious metals in order to obtain all kinds of jewelry. However, we should not forget that, from a practical point of view, our ancestors praised agate for its hardness and durability, making knives or other such tools from it.

Lore and therapy. Ever since ancient times, the queer patterns and attractive melange of colors that characterize agates made people endow it with different 'powers' and use it in therapeutic purposes. Used by Persian magi in the form of rings in their work, in pagan religion and still worn by Shia Muslims embedded in jewelry, this stone is traditionally believed to be a remedy against bites of snakes and stings of scorpions and against the catching on of contagious diseases. Furthermore, the agate is also known to divert storms, still thunder and lightning and, consequently, protect people against the damaging effects these natural phenomena could have on them.

But the gem is mostly known and praised for its ability to protect an individual from sorcery and evil and from injuries, for which reason it was widely worn by warriors and troops under the form of a talisman or amulet. It also promotes bravery, courage and audacity, strength and good luck. Nowadays, the agate is widely used in therapeutic purposes - in crystalotherapy, cromotherapy etc. - for its ability to soothe the mind and soul. For instance, being a cooling stone, it is used in easing high fever and also for its potency to calm down and relax the body and the mind - practice proved that it is very effective against sleep disorders, including insomnia.

Agates are also the lucky gemstones for the following signs: Gemini (in the European horoscope) and Snake (in the Chinese horoscope).