BLUE LACE AGATE

Blue chalcedony is found at numerous locations worldwide, with some of the best examples of Blue Lace agate being mined in Namibia, on the farm called Ysterputs 254. This variety of banded chalcedony and quartz is often found in areas where there has been abundant geologic upheaval, giving way for the fine layers of chalcedony and other minerals to form from multiple episodes of deposition and dissolution over very long periods of time. At the Ysterputs farm, specifically, Blue Lace agate is found as two separate vein systems, each measuring between 1-5 inches of variable thickness. Occasionally, cavities in the rock, called vugs, contain crystalline minerals, which are typically lined with bright blue chalcedony, or white-lavender colored quartz crystals. The beautiful blue chalcedony is relatively hard, and measures between 6.5–7 on the Mohs’s scale of hardness. Geologic evidence suggests that the Blue Lace found in Nigeria appears to have precipitated along various open fractures, which were formed in the alteration zone associated with a major fault in the area. The host rock, or matrix, is a hard, fine-grained igneous dolerite that was formed about 1 billion years ago; however, it is believed that the Blue Lace precipitated in the area somewhere around 54 million years ago. The beautiful blue color of Blue Lace can vary from a faint periwinkle blue, to a rich and beautiful sky blue. Interestingly, the coloration of this variation of agate is not from a pigment, such as in lapis lazuli or azurite, but is instead caused by tiny mineral inclusions, which create an optical effect that is called “Rayleigh scattering”. Rayleigh scattering refers to “the scattering of light by particles in its path of size, which are up to one-tenth the wavelength of the light, and occurs without any loss of energy or change of wavelength”. The scattering caused by these tiny air molecules increases as the wavelength of light decreases. Violet and blue light have the shortest wavelengths and red light has the longest; therefore, blue light is scattered more than red light. This phenomenon is what gives us nature's blue sky, which is a result of the increased scattering of blue light across an otherwise lighter surface. Blue Lace agate is prized for its beautiful alternating patterns of white and blue coloration, with finely banded examples often being cut and polished into gemstones for jewelry creation.

CHARCTERISTICS OF AGATE

Agate is a common rock formation of silicon dioxide, or SiO2 , primarily consisting of banded chalcedony and quartz. It forms in a wide variety of types and colors and can be found all over the world. The stone is regularly formed through the alteration of volcanic and metamorphic rock. The creation of an agate starts when underground cavities are formed from the gases trapped within liquid volcanic material, forming vesicles. These cavities are then filled with silica-rich fluids from the volcanic material, and layers are deposited on the walls of the cavity while slowly working their way towards the center. The first layer deposited on the cavity walls is commonly known as the primary layer. Variations in the solution, or in the conditions of deposition, may cause a corresponding variation in the successive layers of mineralization. These variations result in bands of chalcedony, often alternating with layers of crystalline quartz, forming banded agate. Sometimes, the mineral solution is unable to fill the entirety of the cavity and will leave space for crystallization of macroscopic quartz growth. These tiny terminations of quartz are what give certain variations of agate a sparkly, or druzy, appearance.

HISTORY OF AGATE

Sometime around 300 BCE, or roughly 2,320 years ago, agate was given its name by Theophrastus, a Greek philosopher and naturalist, who discovered the stone along the shore line of the Dirillo River in Sicily. The ornamental use of agate dates back to Ancient Greece, where it has been used in the seal stones and amulets of protection for Greek warriors. Agate is one of the most common materials used in the art of hardstone carving, and has been found at a number of ancient sites, indicating its widespread use throughout the ancient world. It is a versatile gemstone that is often used in modern day jewelry making and is favored for its durability, with a Mohs scale hardness rating of 6.5–7. It is well known for its colorful, banded patterns and wide range of hues; including shades of red, orange, green, yellow, purple, pink and blue, as well as black and white. Agate is still used today for decorative displays, cabochons, beads, carvings, and tumbled and polished specimens of varying size and specific origin. Furthermore, during the turn of the 20th century, large quantities of agate that had been exported from Brazil were used in the ornamental crafting of ballasts for ships. Industrial uses of agate exploit its hardness, its ability to retain a highly polished surface finish, and its resistance to chemical degradation. It has also been used to make knife-edge bearings for laboratory balances and precision pendulums, and also to make mortars and pestles to crush and mix herbs, or sometimes chemicals.

METAPHYSICS OF BLUE LACE AGATE

Metaphysically, Blue Lace agate is a calming and pacifying stone of the Third Eye Chakra. It is considered a stone of personal fulfillment and growth, but also carries with it energies that allow for peace of mind and present-moment thinking habits. A stone of clarity and order, it can aid its user by creating positive affirmations and facilitations of manifestation potential. It is also said that the peaceful energies of Blue Lace agate can help to neutralize feelings of anger and moments of chaos. Physically, Blue Lace agate is said to aid the body with emotional disease, inflammation, shoulder and neck discomfort, and afflictions of digestive process.