Agate Beads

Agate: is the name given to a wide selection of Chalcedony, a form of Quartz  It is a hard stone, usually within the range of 7-9 on the Moh's scale. Agate can be many different colors, and because its banding is so variable, different types of it have been given many different descriptive names. Many types of organic material have been fossilized by Agate, where the organic material has been replaced slowly over a long period of time, so that the original structure of the inclusion has been retained. Fossilized or petrified wood is an attractive form of Agate. Most Agate forms are naturally colored, while others are heated or permanently dyed for decorative effect. Agate is the oldest stone in recorded history and has been used in jewelry since Biblical Babylonian times. Agates were used to ward off storms and were prized gems in antiquity. Traditionally, Agates with banded colors were once placed at the head of a sleeper to give rich and varied dreams. Agate is considered a protection stone. It is believed to attract strength and offer protection from bad dreams, stress and the draining of energy.