Agate is a very unique stone, and the same goes to anything made with agate. Panes of glass, mortar, brooches, tools, and beads have all been created using the stone. No matter what you use it for, it is quite the versatile stone.

In order to understand why agate is so flexible in its various uses, we must look at what it is. It is composed from silica, specifically chalcedony, and is known for its stripes and varying shades of color. Forming in porous stones, they use the host rock in fill in the cavities that occur naturally in volcanic rock, although they sometimes also are observed in metamorphic rocks. They are shaped like nodules when extracted from the stone to be sent to make beads and other products.

When it comes to agate’s physical appearance, there’s no clear cut way to describe them as a whole. Every piece is individual in their number and length of stripes, the coloring, and even what region they are mined from. Agate mines can be found all over the world, from North America to Australia, Europe to Africa. And each variant of the stone is named after the geographic area it was mined from and/or its coloring. Some examples are: Lake Superior Agate, Botswana Agate, Blue Lace Agate, and Fire Agate. Depending on what type of beads you’re looking to use, be sure to do research into what mine produces the agate you want to use.

There is a possibility that the piece of agate you are using in your bead bracelets is fake. Due to the popularity of the stone for beads, many try to sell counterfeits to profit illegally. The usual stones used to pass as agate is jasper, along with various members of the chalcedony family. To tell the two apart, compare the sample to a guaranteed piece of agate. Unlike its near relations, agate is very vibrant in its coloring and has bold stripes, regardless of what color or type of stripes they are. So if the questionable bead pales in comparison, you have a bogus bead.

But there is even more to agate than can be seen at the surface. Medicinally, it is reported to help improve strength and stamina, along with augment memory and concentration. Also, if you wear agate, it can help with insomnia, honesty, and is viewed as a ward against danger. So if you want some beautiful beads to use with your bead bracelets, and could use a little boost in any of these areas of your health, be sure to use agate!

is there something more you would like to learn about beads or bead bracelets? Come to Novobeads.com to check out great, American made products that are fully compatible with all major bead bracelet brands!. Also published at The Beauty And Versatility Of Agate Beads In Bracelets.

Tagged with: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Filed under: Gold Jewelry

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!