Agate Beads

Agates, silica minerals, are found on lakeshores, seashores, or in gravel beds. However, there are three places in the world where agate vein formations exist. They are in Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. Agate is a form of chalcedony (quartz) that is clouded, clear or banded. Iron and hematite content give this gemstone its reddish brown color, and manganese, magnesium, and calcium produce gray to black. Agate forms when gas bubbles trapped in cooling lava become filled with water containing alkali and silica.

White agate is reputed to cure insomnia. The ancients believed that wearing agate made them agreeable, persuasive, and prudent yet bold. They also believed it could quench thirst and protect from fevers. Agates, due to their availability have been used in jewelry making for thousands of years.

The appeal of agate gemstone beads is based on the availability of a wide variety of colors and their hardness, but the fact that it is normally sold in untreated form also appeals to people. Dyed agate can be quite spectacular, so it is popular as well. Jewelry supplies almost always include agate beads due to their beauty, hardness, and low cost.

Some of the varieties of agate beads that we offer include:

• blue lace agate, a light periwinkle blue with soft white banding
• black lace agate, black with light gray and white banding
• crazy lace agate, white with mottled yellow, gray, and brown
• Botswana agate, multi-colored gray, tan, brown, rust, and white with distinct white banding
• brown agate, dark chocolate brown with white netting
• wood agate, the color of wood with a wood grain pattern
• Indian agate, multi-colored green, red, lavender, gray and tan
• moss agate, translucent to clear with dark green leaf patterns
• tree agate, opaque white mottled with dark green

common treatments: usually none, but occasionally agate is dyed or heat treated

hardness: 7 - 7.5

special care: avoid prolonged exposure to strong heat; although quite hard, agates are somewhat brittle and can chip easily