Fashion Jewelry

A bit about Carnelian

Carnelian is a brownish-red mineral which is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. Similar to carnelian is sard, which is generally harder and darker. Both carnelian and sard are varieties of the silica mineral chalcedony colored by impurities of iron oxide. The color can vary greatly, ranging from pale orange to an intense almost-black coloration.

Carnelian was recovered from Bronze Age Minoan layers at Knossos on Crete in a form that demonstrated its use in decorative arts; this use dates to approximately 1800 BC. Carnelian was used widely during Roman times to make engraved gems for signet or seal rings for imprinting a seal with wax on correspondence or other important documents. Hot wax does not stick to carnelian. Sard was used for Assyrian cylinder seals, Egyptian and Phoenician scarabs, and early Greek and Etruscan gems. The Hebrew odem, the first stone in the High Priest’s breastplate, was a red stone, probably sard but perhaps red jasper.

The word carnelian is derived from the Latin word caro, carnis meaning flesh, in reference to the flesh color sometimes exhibited. According to Pliny the Elder, sard derives its name from the city of Sardis in Lydia, but it more likely comes from the Persian word ’sered’, meaning yellowish-red. Carnelian is found primarily in India and various sites in South America. It is a variety of chalcedony. The most favorable pieces are a deep red to red-orange hue. Carnelian has a long and storied past, and was once considered strictly the property of the noble class. People holding a high social status were often buried with this gem stone.

What about the supposed healing properties of Carnelian? Carnelian is considered an energy booster. It helps the insecure person to find strength within them so they can come into their own. It is said to increase the appetite. Carnelian is an energizing, stimulating crystal. A simple orange, red, or pink stone, this powerful gemstone can easily be overlooked. Wear carnelian jewelry or simply keep one of these metaphysical stones in the home or nearby to harness the beneficial properties of carnelian crystal.

Carnelian is a powerful force of positive energy. It revitalizes, inspiring creativity and action. It grounds and stabilizes with a comforting, calming force. It also is one of the few healing crystals that has the power to cleanse other stones; the energy of this gemstone, when directed properly, acts to transform negative energy into light energy. Keeping a large carnelian gemstone in the home acts to protect, and to encourage love between family members. Placed near the front door, it can attract abundance. Wear a carnelian pendant around the neck for a constant flow of warming, motivating energy.

This crystal is good for fighting fatigue and lethargy. It stimulates metabolism and blood circulation. Through increased blood flow, carnelian can be helpful for arthritis and lower back pain. This healing stone is also helpful for increasing female fertility. Carnelian crystal healing can be practiced by anyone. This is essentially a loving, warming stone, there to be respected and appreciated by all who are drawn to it.

Something about Amethyst

Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz. It is often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek methustos which means “intoxicated”. This is a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. The ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief that it would prevent intoxication. The fact that it never worked is not clearly recorded. In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the god of intoxication, and of wine, was pursuing a maiden named Amethystos, who refused his affections. Amethystos prayed to the gods to remain chaste, a prayer which the goddess Artemis answered, transforming her into a white stone. Humbled by Amethystos’s desire to remain chaste, Dionysus poured wine over the stone as an offering, dyeing the crystals purple. It sports a 6-sided prism ending in 6-sided pyramid and rates a 7 or lower on the Mohs hardness scale. Sometimes it is rated lower because of impurities.  Because Amethyst is the violet variety of quartz its chemical formula is also SiO2.

Synthetic amethyst is made to imitate the best quality amethyst. Its chemical and physical properties are so similar to that of natural amethyst that it can not be differentiated with absolute certainty without advanced testing. This kind of testing can easily become too expensive to be worth it. Amethyst is composed of an irregular superposition of alternate lamellae of right-handed and left-handed quartz. It has been shown that this structure may be due to mechanical stresses. Amethyst was used as a gemstone by the ancient Egyptians and was largely employed in antiquity for intaglio engraved gems. Medieval European soldiers wore amethyst amulets as protection in battle. In that time, amethysts are believed to heal people and keep them cool-headed. Beads of amethyst were found in Anglo-Saxon graves in England.

If you’re in the mood to mine your own amethyst, it is produced in abundance from the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil where it occurs in large geodes within volcanic rocks. Many of the hollow agates of southwestern Brazil and Uruguay contain a crop of amethyst crystals in the interior. Artigas, Uruguay and neighboring Brazilian state Rio Grande do Sul are large world producers exceeding in quantity Minas Gerais, as well as Mato Grosso, Espirito Santo, Bahia, and Ceará states, all amethyst producers of importance in Brazil. Of course, you’ll have to negotiate the mining rights.

In addition, it is also found and mined in South Korea and the largest opencast amethyst vein in the world is in Maissau, Lower Austria. Also, some fine amethyst comes from Russia, especially from near Mursinka in the Ekaterinburg district, where it occurs in drusy cavities in granite rocks. India also has many localities that yield amethyst. Zambia in southern Africa produces about 1000 tons annually. North America also has many places where amethyst can be found.

Interestingly, up to the 18th century, amethyst was included in the cardinal, or most valuable, gemstones. It took its place alongside diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald. Unfortunately for collectors, since the discovery of extensive deposits in locations such as Brazil, it has lost most of its value. As with all gemstones, the beauty and therefore, the cost, is in the eye and pocketbook of the beholder.

Information about the Gem: Citrine

There are many varieties of quartz and this one is also the birthstone for November. It is usually found in differing shades of yellow and orange.

With a hardness of 7, Citrine is not the hardest gemstone, but it is considered to be rare in nature. The way to define a citrine is a quartz crystal that is yellow or orange in color. Most of the citrines on the market today have been heat treated. Sometimes low grade, inexpensive amethyst or smoky quartz are often heated to high temperatures to produce the more profitable orange yellow citrine. Those citrines that have been heated to create their color usually have much more of an orange or reddish color than those found in nature. Those that are found in nature usually have a pale yellow. Since amethyst is also a quartz and is often found near citrine. Much of the natural citrine may have even started out as amethyst. Heat from nearby bodies may have caused the change to citrine.

If you bombard an amethyst – turned – citrine with beta radiation, it can get its purplish color back. Nowadays, a popular gemstone is called ametrine. It is actually half the color of the citrine and half the color of an amethyst. One thing that must be watched out for when shopping for yellow stones is that citrine can often be confused with the more expensive orange-yellow topaz. Because these stones can look similar, citrine can sometimes be sold as topaz by dishonest dealers. As a result, this practice has created a negative thought in the minds of many potential citrine fanciers who see citrine as a fake topaz and not as a legitimate gemstone.

There are other types of quartz crystals you may see in the market place. Some of them are: Amethyst as the purple gemstone,  Milky Quartz as the cloudy white variety. Prasiolite is a green color. Rock crystal is the clear variety that is also used as a gemstone. Rose or Rosie quartz is a pink to reddish pink colored stone. Smoky quartz is sometimes brown or gray in color.

In addition to citrine’s value as a gemstone, it has been reported to have healing properties. Some say it has the healing properties of the sun. “It expands the auric field, filling it with light and clearing away any lingering etheric toxins. Citrine is also a wonderful manifestation crystal by motivating you into taking action. It brings optimism and cheerfulness. Citrine is a good stone for aligning all the chakras. It focuses on balancing the solar plexus chakra, which in turn integrates the lower and higher chakras.”

So, if you feel you need your chakras aligned or need the healing power of the sun, then this stone may also be in order. But outside of these somewhat unproven benefits, this color of quartz will never cease to interest and entertain those of us captivated by yellow stones. Perhaps your local jewelers has some on offer that may be just right for you.

Choosing Stones

All stones are not created equal. There are so many out there to choose from, how do you know that ring you love has a good stone or not? First of all, it needs to be stated that the best stone for you is the one you love. That is a wise statement and holds true as long as there are no other people on earth and if there were, their opinions wouldn’t matter. Lo and behold, last we checked, there are about 7 billion people roaming around and some of them are in-laws and/or prospective husbands. For you gentlemen, there are also some ladies out there you may want to charm, but may instead offend if you present her with a gift of jewelry with a stone she simply doesn’t like.

There are ways of avoiding the pitfalls of wrong stone choice, if you so desire. The first step is the self-education step. Go to a jewelry store. Make them show you what a really big and really good diamond looks like. Put it under a good light and use a ‘loop’ to check it out closely. Then ask them to show you a CZ of similar size and cut. can you see the difference? CZ’s can be marvelous but they are not diamonds and you should know that. What about Peridot? It’s a green stone but it looks little like an Emerald. Take a look at an Emerald – the best one they have. Then check out Tourmaline and even crystal glass. See the difference? Which looks are expensive and which ones are better for a casual part? Which ones say luxury and which ones say ‘fun’? Which stones look best in a setting of Gold or Silver or Platinum?

What about the small stones? What happens when you mix different colors and cuts of different sizes together? Now, you want to start thinking about personalities and image. Do you want to appear rich? Think about what stones will do that for you. How many? On rings or on bracelets or earrings? What kind of a necklace with what type of stones is going to express how you feel and who you are? If you are buying for someone else, what best shows their positive side? What compliments their appearance? What would they most adore? All these factors are relevant and can make or break an effective stone buying escapade. Just as important as the stone can be the setting. And also as important is the occasion. If there is no specific occasion in mind, then personality and desired image come into play.

There are stones out there that cost millions and stones that cost only pennies. Bright and shiny ones and small and subtle ones. Ones that glimmer and sparkle and others that portray darkness and cold. Knowing what is available and thinking through when and wear you will be wearing them is essential to a good purchase. Keep in mind that there are many jewelry shops out there. If the first one you visit is limited, visit another. There are always many more choices just around the corner.

Agate Stone

Agate is the birthstone for September, the birth stone for the Zodiac sign of Gemini, and the accepted gemstone for the 12th and 14th wedding anniversaries. Agate is found all over the world including: the Africa, Asia, Brazil, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Nepal, and the USA. A hard stone, usually within the range of 7-9 on the Mohs scale agates are found in all colors of the rainbow, although green and blue are quite rare.

Agate is a variety of chalcedony formed from layers of quartz which usually show varicolored bands. It usually occurs as rounded nodules or veins. Often tiny quartz crystals form within the stone and add to the beauty and uniqueness of individual stones. These crystals are called drusy. Lapidaries often cut just the drusy from an agate and jewelers use these drusy cabochons as the main stone or as an accent stone in their jewelry designs.

Agate is a relatively inexpensive stone, but there are some exceptions. In recent years, Montana agate has gained wide acceptance in jewelry and well cut stones with nicely defined patterns often exceed the price of some of the more well known gemstones. Plume agate is another that often brings big money.

It is a microcrystalline variety of quartz, chiefly chalcedony, characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks but can be common in certain metamorphic rocks.

Agate is one of the most common materials used in the art of hard stone 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 Knossos site on Crete illustrates its role in Bronze Age Minoan culture. A Brazilian geode lined with amethyst and weighing 35 tons was exhibited at the Düsseldorf Exhibition of 1902.

The first deposit on the wall of a cavity, forming the “skin” of the agate, is generally a dark greenish mineral substance. This green silicate may give rise by alteration to a brown iron oxide, producing a rusty appearance on the outside. The outer surface of an agate, freed from its matrix, is often pitted and rough, apparently in consequence of the removal of the original coating. The first layer spread over the wall of the cavity has been called the “priming”, and upon this base zeolitic minerals may be deposited.

Many agates are hollow and in such cases the last deposit commonly consists of quartz, often amethyst, having the crystals directed towards the free space so as to form a crystal-lined cavity, or geode.

Greek agate is a name given to pale white to tan colored agate found in Sicily back to 400 B.C. The Greeks used it for making jewelry and beads. Today any agate of this color from Sicily, once an ancient Greek colony, is called Greek agate. But it is interesting to note that the stone had been around centuries before that and was known to both the Sumerians and the Egyptians, who used the gem for decoration and religious ceremony.

Other forms of agate include Lake Superior agate, carnelian agate, Botswana agate, Ellensburg blue agate, blue lace agate, plume agates, tube agate, fortification agate, fire agate and Mexican crazy-lace agate.

Agates have long been used in arts and crafts. Today, agate can be found in many jewelry pieces from pendants to rings to bracelets and more. Look for it in your local jewelry store for modestly price items that often have stunning beauty.

All about Moonstone

The name “moonstone” comes from the Greek name Selenite or “goddess of the moon.” Moonstone is also known as “adularia” which derived its name from Adula, the location where moonstone is found in the Italian/Swiss Alps, or “selenite,” from the Greek word selene or “moon.” The principle sources for the highest quality moonstone are India, Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and Tanzania.

Moonstone’s characteristic blue/white scheen is caused by an optical phenomenon that is referred to as the “schiller effect,” “aventurescence” or “adularescence.” The “play of light” created by adularescence is caused by thin, alternating layers of feldspar orthoclase and albite. These layers all interact to scatter reflected light when incident light rays refract off of lamellas inside the stone.

Sometimes as titanium backing is added to the stone to enhance or create a prismatic effect when light is reflected back through the moonstone. The optical qualities of Moonstone are sometimes mischaracterized as “opalescent.” Some varieties of Moonstone also display chatoyancy or a multi-rayed star effect.

Moonstone is typically cut in cabochon style due to its softness and opacity, and is a soft gemstone that is easily scratched. The most desirable effects of adularescence are achieved when the stone is cut on its optimal crystal axis. Gems are often valued for their appearance or monetary value, but certain gems carry a more spiritual value than monetary. Moonstone is one of the most mythical of all gemstones. With its exotic, lunar name and its milky unique rainbow sheen, moonstone is highly prized by many practitioners of crystal and stone healing, as well as some mystic religions. Moonstone is a sacred stone to the people of India, and was named by the Romans for its ability to reflect moon light, making it a sacred stone to this culture as well.

The most magnificent moonstone is rainbow moonstone, which is a milky white to gray color with a blue and rainbow sheen that catches the light. It is found in several different areas of the world, such as Brazil, India, Germany, Madagascar, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Tanzania and the US and is treasured in many cultures and used in Zodiac, traditional crystal medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and some other areas.

Moonstone gems have some mystical properties that benefit the wearer in the form of protection and healing. It is believed that moonstone brings good fortune, protects women and children, enhances passion and balances yin and yang. In ancient times, it was believed that if a person held a moonstone in their mouth during the full moon, they could tell the future. As with most magical items, Moonstones were also used to assure good crops.

Moonstone gems have also been attributed to have healing qualities, a notion generally believed in some cultures who value stones for spiritual healing. These properties are said to promote digestion, stop nosebleeds, and protect against epilepsy and sun stroke. Although moonstone acquired from your local jewelry store may not and is not guaranteed to provide all of the above benefits, you can always count on its beauty.

News about Jasper

Jasper, a form of chalcedony, is an opaque, impure variety of silica, usually red, yellow, brown or green in color. Blue is rare. This mineral breaks with a smooth surface, and is used for ornamentation or as a gemstone. It can be highly polished and is used for vases, seals, and at one time for snuff boxes. When the colors are in stripes or bands, it is called striped or banded jasper. Jaspilite is a banded iron formation rock that often has distinctive bands of jasper. Jasper is basically chert which owes its red color to iron inclusions. The specific gravity of jasper is typically 2.5 to 2.9. Jasper gets its name from the French word ‘jsape’ and means a ’spotted stone’. Jasper is very close to agate in its formation and also has certain variants which depict high degree of similarity with agate, namely, jaspagate and jasponyx. The name is derived via Old French jaspre and Latin iaspidem.

Jasper Stone is also sometimes known as Bloodstone, Plum-blossom, Mookaite, Biggs, Imperial, etc. Early history claims that jasper in different forms was used for multiple chores. Medicinal properties of jasper were recognized much early in the history and people used to wear it for multiple health benefits. Jasper is an opaque form of chalcedony that occurs in multiple colors, It is finely grained variety of the silica mineral chert. A number of patterns are formed on the jasper stone during the consolidation of the sediments. Jasper stone is usually made by the process of hydrothermal circulation. Jasper has a dull luster but takes a fine polish. It is similar to quartz in hardness and other physical properties. It is a dark green, semi-translucent, opaque form of stone. Jasper stone owes its color to admixed hematite, but when it occurs with clay admixed, the color is a yellowish white or gray, or with goethite, a brown or yellow.

Green jasper was used to make bow drills in Mehrgarh between 4th-5th millennium BC. Jasper is known to have been a favorite gem in the ancient world; its name can be traced  back in Hebrew, Assyrian, Persian, Greek and Latin. On Minoan Crete within present day Greece jasper was carved to produce seals circa 1800 BC based upon archaeological recoveries at the palace of Knossos.

Jasper stone beads have wonderful durability and come in almost all colors. These beads are considered as wonderful elements in jewelry making projects. Jasper beads are used in the manufacturing of many jewelry items and other lapidary arts. It is one of the gemstone that is used in commesso, also called florentine mosaic. Commesso is, basically, a technique of fashioning pictures with thin, cut-to-shape pieces of brightly colored, semiprecious stones.

When these jasper stone beads are added to a design, due to their unique slick pattern and classic shapes, the attraction of this design increases by many folds. The jasper stone beads can be freely used with soft-flex, silk or cotton thread, wire as these are tough gemstones beads. Choose whichever form you prefer, Jasper is always sought after as a wonderful and beautiful gemstone.

Garnet

If you know Garnet as the deep red stone almost with an orang-ish tint, you’re right but there is so much more to Garnet than that. There have been some spectacular finds, especially in Africa, that have enhanced the traditional image of the garnet with a surprising number of new colors. Thanks to their rich color spectrum, garnets today can quite happily keep pace with changes of style and the trends of fashion. And thanks to the new finds, there is a reliable supply of them too. In fact, this gemstone in particular is giving quite a shot in the arm to the world of jewelry today.

The classification of  ‘garnet’ indicates a group of more than ten different gemstones of similar chemical composition. It is true to say that red is most often encountered, but the garnet also exists in various shades of green, a tender to intense yellow, a fiery orange and some very fine earth-colored varieties. One color you won’t find in the garnet world is blue. Garnets are much sought-after and much recognized gemstones – even more so today because not only the classic colors red and green which are desirable, but also the fine shades in between. In addition, the world of the garnet is also rich in rarities such as star garnets and stones whose color changes depending on whether in daylight or artificial.

Garnet measures 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale which is relatively hard. With a few minor exceptions it applies to all the members of the garnet group, and it is the reason for the longevity of these gemstones. Garnets are relatively insensitive and uncomplicated to work with. The only thing they really don’t like is being knocked about or subjected to improper heat treatment. They also have a high refractive index, the cause of the garnet’s great brilliance. The shape of the raw crystals is also interesting. In the Middle Ages, the red garnet was also called the ‘carbuncle stone’. And even today, fantasy names like Arizona ruby, Arizona spinel, Montana ruby or New Mexico ruby are still doing big business in garnets.

Garnets have been known to Man for thousands of years. Noah, it is said, used a garnet lantern to help him steer his ark through the dark night. Garnets are also found in jewelry from early Egyptian, Greek and Roman times. Many an early explorer and traveler liked to carry a garnet with him, for the garnet was popular as a talisman and protective stone, as it was believed to light up the night and protect its bearer from evil and disaster. Today, science has taught us that the garnet’s glow comes from its excellent refractive index.

In addition to the many notable colors, garnets also have many names: almandine, andradite, demantoid, grossularite, hessonite, pyrope, rhodolite, tsavorite, spessartine, and uvarovite, to name a few. There is also the fiery red pyrope. Its spirited red, often with a slight brownish nuance, was a gemstone color much in demand in the 18th and 19th centuries. Garnets from a find in the north-eastern part of the former kingdom of Bohemia were world-famous at that time. In Europe, they were employed as jewelry, especially in the Victorian period. Genuine Bohemian garnet jewelry was often set with a large number of small stones, which were close to one another like the seeds of a pomegranate. Today too, garnets are still found in former Czechoslovakia and set close together according to the old tradition. If you have a chance to acquire these special arrangements, don’t hesitate.

All about Topaz

Topaz is a gem stone of many possible colors. You’ll find it in Clear (if no impurities), blue, brown, orange, gray, yellow, green, pink and reddish pink. Let’s learn a little more about this semi-precious gem stone.

Pure topaz is colorless and transparent but, like all gem stones, is usually tinted by impurities. Typical topaz is wine, yellow, pale gray or reddish-orange and blue brown. It can also be made white, pale green, blue, gold, pink, reddish-yellow or opaque to transparent/translucent. Orange topaz, also known as precious topaz, is the traditional November birthstone, the symbol of friendship, and the state gemstone for the US state of Utah.

Imperial topaz is yellow, pink or pink-orange. Brazilian Imperial Topaz can often have a bright yellow to deep golden brown hue, sometimes even violet. Many brown or pale topazes are treated to make them bright yellow, gold, pink or violet colored. Some imperial topaz stones can fade on exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time. Blue topaz is the US state Texas’ gemstone. Naturally occurring blue topaz is quite rare. Typically, colorless, gray or pale yellow and blue material is heat treated and irradiated to produce a more desired darker blue. Mystic topaz is colorless topaz which has been artificially coated giving it the desired rainbow effect.

Topaz is commonly associated with silicic igneous rocks of the granite and rhyolite type. It can also be found with fluorite and cassiterite in various areas including Ural and Ilmen mountains of Russia, in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Germany, Norway, Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Flinders Island, Australia, Nigeria and the United States. Some clear topaz crystals from Brazilian pegmatites can reach boulder size and weigh hundreds of pounds. These won’t be found on a ring. Crystals of this size may be seen in museum collections.

The name ‘topaz’ comes from the ancient name of St. John’s Island in the Red Sea which was difficult to find and from which a yellow stone was mined in ancient times; topaz itself wasn’t really known about before the classical era. In the Middle Ages, the name topaz was used to refer to any yellow gemstone, but in modern times it denotes only the silicate described above. According to some, it is one of the gemstones which form the foundations of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. These so-called apocalyptic stones are intended to serve in protection against enemies and as a symbol of beauty and splendor. It cannot be proved conclusively whether the name of the topaz comes from the Sanskrit or the Greek, though the Greek name ‘topazos’ means ‘green gemstone’. The Romans dedicated the topaz to Jupiter.

The color in which the topaz is most commonly found is yellow. In the 18th century, it was mined in Germany during a period of over 60 years. However, most of the crystals were hardly a centimeter in diameter. You had to go to Siberia or Brazil to find crystals as large as your fist. The enormous and magnificent topaz from the Portuguese crown, the Braganza, was for a long time thought to be a diamond. It weighs 1680 ct.

In mysticism, the topaz is attributed with a cooling effect. It is said to dispel sadness, anger and nocturnal fears, to warn its wearer of poisons and protect him or her from sudden death. It is reputed to make men handsome and intelligent and sterile women fertile and happy. One should listen to these claims with caution, however. It was also claimed that you could immerse your hand in boiling water after a topaz had been thrown into it and retract it again unharmed. But Topaz, nevertheless, is still a magical stone.

Something About Agate

Perhaps you’ve seen or heard of agate as it is used in jewelry. Let’s learn a bit more about it. Agate is a microcrystalline type of quartz or silica, chiefly chalcedony, with a fine grain and a bright color. It is one of the most common materials used in the art of hardstone carving, and has been recovered at a number of ancient sites. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks. The small town of Idar-Oberstein in Germany is known for the finest agate carving in the world.

Agate has a long history. The stone originally got its name from Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and naturalist, who discovered the stone around 350 BC. Colorful agates and other chalcedonies were obtained over 3,000 years ago from the Achates River, now called Dirillo, in Sicily. Agate was highly valued as a talisman or amulet in ancient times. It was said to quench thirst and protect against fever. Persian magicians used agate to divert storms.

There are many types of agate. A Mexican agate, showing only a single eye, has received the name of cyclops agate. Included matter of a green, golden, red, black or other color or combinations embedded in the chalcedony and disposed in filaments and other forms suggestive of vegetable growth, gives rise to dendritic or moss agate. Dendritic agates have fern like patterns in them formed due to the presence of manganese and iron oxides. Turritella agate is formed from silicified fossil Elimia tenera shells. E. tenera are spiral marine gastropods having elongated, spiral shells composed of many whorls. Similarly, coral, petrified wood and other organic remains or porous rocks can also become agatized. Agatized coral is often referred to as Petoskey stone or agate. Greek agate is the pale white to tan colored agate found in Sicily back to 400 B.C. The Greeks used it for making jewelry and beads. Yet the stone had been around even centuries before that and was known to both the Sumerians and the Egyptians, who used the gem for decoration and religious ceremony.

Most agates occur as nodules in volcanic rocks or ancient lavas. They represent cavities created in the molten mass which were then filled, wholly or partially, by siliceous matter deposited in regular layers upon the walls. In the formation of agate, it is probable that waters containing silica in solution percolated through the rock and deposited a siliceous coating on the interior of the vapour-vesicles. Variations in the character of the solution or in the conditions of deposition may cause a corresponding variation in the successive layers, so that bands of chalcedony often alternate with layers of crystalline quartz.

Many agates are hollow, since deposition has not proceeded far enough to fill the cavity, and in such cases the last deposit commonly consists of quartz, often amethyst, having the apices of the crystals directed towards the free space so as to form a crystal-lined cavity, or geode.

Agate is used chiefly to make ornaments such as pins, brooches, paper knives, inkstands, marbles and seals. Because of its hardness and ability to resist acids. Because of the high polish possible with agate it has been used for centuries for leather burnishing tools. The sanctuary of a Presbyterian church in Yachats, Oregon, has six windows with panes made of agates collected from the local beaches.

Often tiny quartz crystals form within the stone and add to the beauty and uniqueness of individual stones. These crystals are called drusy. Lapidaries often cut just the drusy from an agate and jewelers use these drusy cabochons as the main stone or as an accent stone in their jewelry designs. Ask your jeweler about agate on your next visit and enjoy the many beautiful forms on offer.