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Tennessee Symbols, StoneAgate

Agate

Chalcedony family - SiO2

Adopted on March 5, 1969.

March 5, 1969, the General Assembly, in adopting House Joint Resolution 42, official status to agate, a cryptocrystalline quartz. This semiprecious gemstone is found in only a few areas of the state.

Agate is a banded, multicolored, variety of Chalcedony. It occurs in an infinite amount of colors and patterns, and no two Agates are alike. The extraordinary beauty and uniqueness of Agate is responsible for its great popularity. There are hundreds of different Chalcedony varieties, and many have gem uses.

Agates can be collected from different locations and geological formations across the State. The material includes golden tone agate from Hawkins Co., agatized oolites from Greene Co., carnelian, blue, ivory, pink, finely banded, dendritic, moss, iris and Fairburn style agate from Bedford Co. and Lake Superior type agate and agatized corals and sponges from Shelby Co.
 

Chalcedony family

Scientifically, the term "Chalcedony" refers to any type of microcrystalline Quartz. gate is a part is a part of the Chalcedony family. Chalcedony is not really known by its name. Scientist call it "Microcrystalline Quartz", and collectors and gem dealers call each variety by its particular name. The chemical formula is SiO2. The composition is silicon dioxide. These come in every imaginable color, with the Agate variety being banded in many different color combinations.

Chalcedony (Agate) are "Hardness 7" on the Mohs scale. This hardness scale indicates how well the stone resists scratching or abrasion and is rated 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest, like diamonds). Chalcedony (Agate), being a microcrystalline variety of Quartz, does not occur in crystals. It occurs botryoidal, mammilary, stalactitic, massive, nodular, as smooth rounded pebbles, as banded masses, and in geodes. This mineral ranges from transparent to opaque and has a specific gravity of 2.6 - 2.7. The luster of Chalcedony (Agate) is vitreous, waxy, or dull. Some yellow or brown varieties are resinous. Chalcedony has a conchoidal fracture and has a brittle tenacity. Many of these specimens are fluorescent - generally the white or green. Others are triboluminescent (spark when sawed or struck), and piezolectric (generates an electrical charge under stress).

History of Agate:

Agates were used for ornamentation and physical healing amulets, dating back to Babylon. Their medicinal uses continued throughout Ancient Greek and Egyptian civilizations, spreading throughout Africa and the Middle East, into Russia. Folklore mentions the use of agates as early as the 8th Century. They were often added to other stones to secure the actions of a stone. Rhodochrosite, a pink lace agate discovered by the Incas, was used with moonstone or garnet ornaments to increase the overall pink hue. The carnelian, an orange agate, was once one of the agates most prized by the Egyptians to represent nature organized into a building form or shape. Legends mention the power of agates to secure the wearer from danger and to protect children from falling. They were believed to endow their owners with strength, courage, security and even healing of fears.

Early physicians used them for abdominal organ strengthening. Agates are found all over the world with some of the finest specimens occurring in the southwestern United States. Whatever your needs, security, strength, or support, the agates are there to serve you.

Metaphysical: Receptive stone (soothing/de-stressing). Of the four elements (earth, water, fire, air), it is associated with the earth. Considered a powerful good talisman for gardeners. Tree agate is also a healing stone. It aids in making new friends, promotes peace, grounding and centering of energies, growth (of gardens, money, personal goals), business success, stability.

Ancient Lore: In Greece, the power of agate was considered so strong that Orpheus is depicted as carrying agate on his descent into Hades. Agate was thought to assist in finding hidden treasures, increase happiness, build confidence and bring victory. In Persia, agate was worn to confer eloquence.

CHAKRAS: Throat, Thymus, Heart, Solar Plexus, Navel, Sacral, Base, Link and Earth Star.

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