Red agate is a common silicon-oxygen mineral. It is basically quartz, and has many of the same properties as quartz. Agate is also a member of the crystal family. Its six-sided crystals are very small and must be seen through a microscope.
Red agate has a variety of colors, and often appears in multiple colors. It is generally translucent to opaque. Some red agates have water in them, called water gall agate. Such agates can also make water sounds when shaken, which is very strange.
According to color and pattern, agate can be divided into striped agate, twisted agate, moss agate, brecciated agate, leopard agate, water agate, moss agate, red agate, onyx, etc.
Agate History
So, where does agate come from?
The meaning of agate has a long history. The original meaning of agate comes from the ancient Greek philosopher Theophrastus, who named the stone after the Achates River in southwestern Sicily between 400 and 300 BC.
What is the name of this river, Achates, translated into English? Agate! The river once flowed through a Greek colony, and for centuries the stones had been arranged in shallow water, making it a popular source of the material.
Agate tombstone carvings have been found at various archaeological sites from the Bronze Age, including the site of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete. In the Middle Ages, agate was a popular ring material, and nobles used it to make seal rings.
Agate Types
It can be roughly divided into the following categories: red agate, blue agate, green agate, purple agate, gray agate, etc.
Among them, red agate is the best among all kinds of agate.
Blue agate is relatively rare and is a high-grade agate. It is deeply loved by people for its unique blue and white color. Its magnificent color is like a good material for jade carving, with dark blue being the best and light blue being the second.
Purple agate, presenting a single purple color, the best ones are as bright as amethyst.
Green agate, there are very few natural green agates found in nature, and most of the green agates on the market are artificially colored, and their color is dark green, and some are similar to jadeite.
Black agate, a rare black agate, is very rare in nature. Most of the black agate on the market is artificially colored. Its color is dark and easy to be confused with other black jades.
White agate, mainly white or colorless agate, some of which can be classified as white chalcedony, is often used to make beads and is artificially colored. It can be colored into blue, green, black and other colors.
Colorful agate, agate composed of multiple colors such as red, yellow, orange, and white, is rare and extremely precious.
Agate's Function
Purify energy
Eliminate negative energy such as stress, fatigue, and turbid air, and can also demagnetize and charge crystal jewelry
For example, in Western magic, people often write their wishes on a piece of paper, then fold it and put it in the agate treasure bowl after meditation for at least one day and one night, so that the energy can be agitated and strengthened in it, and finally take it out and burn it, using the power of fire to transmit the wishes to nature, so that you can make your wishes come true.
Improve ability
Children who come into contact with water agate can also be infected by its water characteristics, becoming smarter, more flexible, well-behaved, strong in learning ability, and good at adapting.
Wearing water agate can enhance people's affinity, make people flexible and adaptable, and help career growth and abundant financial resources.
Other functions
Wearing agate in the hot summer is not only fashionable and beautiful, but also can reduce temperature and prevent heatstroke.
Displaying water agate in the couple's room can also help the couple's relationship and enhance the joy of the boudoir.
Agate can also improve endocrine, strengthen blood circulation, make the complexion better, eliminate sexual obstacles, and avoid impotence and infertility.
The orange-colored red agate can be effective for the rectum and gastrointestinal tract, activate the internal organs, prevent constipation, help expel toxins, and also soothe liver disease, rheumatism, neuralgia, varicose veins, etc.
For women, long-term wearing of agate can make the skin lubricated, cheerful, blood circulation enhanced, lips rosy, eyes bright and energetic.
How to distinguish between real & fake Agate
Agate is a gemstone commonly used for inlaying jewelry and carving crafts. The following are the methods for distinguishing between the real and the fake:
Color
Real agate has bright and shiny colors, while fake agate has a slightly worse color and luster. The contrast between the two is quite obvious. Natural red agate has distinct colors and very obvious stripes. If you look closely, you can see densely arranged tiny red spots on the red stripes.
Most fake agate tobacco pipes made of stone have petal-shaped patterns on the bottom, forming a "chrysanthemum bottom"; while dyed blue agate has bright and uniform colors, giving people a fake feeling.
Texture
Fake agate is mostly made of stone, and is softer than real agate. You can scratch fake agate with jade, but not the real one. From the surface, real agate has few flaws, while inferior agate has more.
Craftsmanship quality
The production process of high-quality agate is strict and advanced, so the surface is bright and shiny, and the inlay is firm and round without scratches or cracks.
Grade
Water-filled agate is the most precious variety of agate, characterized by closed cavities containing water.
How to identify different type of Agate
Agate should be distinguished from its color, transparency, material and temperature:
Color characteristics
Real agate has a bright, active, pure, thick and harmonious color; while fake agate has unnatural color and light, often gaudy and frivolous.
Some vintage products may come from old pits with high pH values, usually with reduced luster, chroma and transparency. Of course, their identity is changed by the precious beauty of their aged and mottled surface.
Transparency
Real agate has low transparency (otherwise it has reached the crystal boundary), and some can see natural water lines or "clouds" and "silk". Artificially synthesized agate has good transparency, even as transparent as a glass ball, which is often unnatural.
Material
Fake agate is imitated from other stones, especially those that are fragile or soft. Generally, agate is relatively strong, and most agates that are not affected by acid or alkali can scratch glass plates. Real agate jewelry is heavier than synthetic agate jewelry.
Temperature
Real agate (especially new material that has not been affected by acid and alkali factors) is warm in winter and cool in summer, while synthetic agate changes with the external temperature. It is hot when it is hot and cool when it is cool.
