Blue Lace Agate is a variety of banded Chalcedony, a mineral of the Quartz family. It exhibits a lace-like pattern with forms such as eyes, swirls, bands or zigzags of predominantly light blue, striped with brighter blues, whites, and even brown threads of color. The stone was given its name by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and naturalist, who discovered it along the river Achates in Sicily, sometime between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. Colorful agates and other chalcedonies were obtained over 3,000 years ago from the Achates River, now called Dirillo.

HISTORY

Agate has been discovered with the artifacts of Neolithic people, and was used as healing amulets and ornamentation dating back to Babylon. Its medicinal uses continued through the ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations, and spread throughout Africa and the Middle East into Russia. Agate sparked a world renowned stone-cutting and polishing industry in Germany that flourished from the 15th to the 19th century, and exists today. [Simmons, 6][Mella, 67-68]

COMPOSITION

Agate minerals have the tendency to form on pre-existing rocks, creating difficulties in accurately determining their time of formation. Their host rocks have been dated to have formed as early as the Archean Eon. Agates are most commonly found as nodules within the cavities of volcanic rocks. These cavities are formed from the gases trapped within the liquid volcanic material forming vesicles. Cavities are then filled in with silica-rich fluids from the volcanic material, and layers are deposited on the walls of the cavity slowly working their way inwards. The first layer deposited on the cavity walls is commonly known as the priming layer. Variations in the character of the solution or in the conditions of deposition may cause a corresponding variation in the successive layers. These variations in layers result in bands of chalcedony, often alternate with layers of crystalline quartz forming banded agate.

HARDNESS

Mohs Scale Hardness: 6.5 - 7

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a qualitative ordinal scale characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of harder material to scratch softer material.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Blue Lace Agate helps strengthen the skeletal structure, accelerate the repair of bones, as well as treat arthritis and hereditary bone deformity. It is helpful to the heart and blood vessels and soothing for tension-related headaches and high blood pressure. Blue Lace Agate is thought to help relieve sore throats, swollen neck glands and thyroid. It aids in balancing the fluid around the brain, enhances mental function,perception, and analytical abilities.

Blue Lace Agate is thought to relieve sore throats, aching or swollen glands in the neck, and may aid thyroid problems. [Eason, 219] It helps strengthen the skeletal structure, and is useful in treating arthritis and hereditary bone deformity, as well as the mending of breaks and fractures. [Melody, 83]

Agate enhances mental function by improving concentration, perception, and analytical abilities. [Hall, 39] Blue Lace Agate also aids in fluid balance around the brain. The hydrocephalic may find relief by using a liquid elixir of this stone. [Melody, 83] (We recommend the indirect method of preparation.)

Placed on the abdomen or used as an elixir, Agate stimulates the digestive system and relieves gastritis. It is beneficial for the eyes, hollow organs such as the stomach, uterus, intestines, etc., and heals skin disorders and itching due to insect bites. [Hall, 39][Gienger, 7][Megemont, 16]

Agate is helpful to the heart and blood vessels. Wearing an Agate in the middle of the chest strengthens the cardiac muscle, and heals emotional disharmony that prevents acceptance of love. [Megemont, 16][Hall, 39]

Blue Lace Agate is soothing for tension-related headaches and high blood pressure. [Eason, 219] A cold Agate placed on the forehead is generally effective in curing fever. (If the fever returns, however, consult a doctor.) Agate may also reduce the symptoms of epilepsy, and for some people guards against sleepwalking. [Megemont, 15]