{"product_id":"blue-agate-geode-half-16","title":"Blue Agate Slab - 4.0 x 5.6 inch","description":"\u003cp\u003eTight parallel bands of blue-grey and white run in close ranks across this Blue Agate Slab, curving around a small pale rectangular pocket set low and slightly off centre. The layering is unusually fine and regular, giving the face a combed, linear texture that holds together across the whole surface. Scattered dark flecks sit along the outer edge where the host rock remains. The polish is bright and even, and the piece stands upright on a flat cut base at a moderate, easily placed size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBanded Agate is traditionally linked with balance and harmony, and secondarily with grounding and protection. Finely layered specimens reward close viewing, so this one belongs on a desk, bookshelf, or side table rather than across a room where the detail would flatten out. Agate has long been kept in spaces used for work or study, and a piece of this scale settles onto a shared surface without needing room cleared for it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Properties\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePrimary Focus: Balance \u0026amp; Harmony\u003cbr\u003eSecondary Focus: Protection \u0026amp; Grounding\u003cbr\u003eChakra Association: Root, Sacral\u003cbr\u003eZodiac Sign: Gemini, Virgo\u003cbr\u003eChinese Zodiac: Tiger, Rooster\u003cbr\u003eRuling Planet: Mercury\u003cbr\u003eElements: Earth, Fire\u003cbr\u003eMohs Hardness: 7\u003cbr\u003eStone Family: Tectosilicate\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Banded Agate\u003cbr\u003eOrigin: Brazil\u003cbr\u003eForm: Slice\/Slab\u003cbr\u003eFinish: Polished (front face only; back\/rind natural, unpolished)\u003cbr\u003eApproximate Size: 101 mm (4.0 inches) H x 143 mm (5.6 inches) W\u003cbr\u003eApproximate Weight: 979 g\u003cbr\u003eListing: Single unit\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGeological Information\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBanded Agate is microcrystalline quartz, silicon dioxide at Mohs 7, formed as silica-rich fluids repeatedly enter a cavity in host rock and deposit in successive layers. Very fine, closely spaced banding of the kind seen here results from many short depositional pulses, each laying down only a thin increment before the local supply was exhausted and the cycle paused; the same total volume delivered in fewer, longer episodes would have produced a handful of wide bands instead. The regularity across the full face indicates those pulses ran at a steady rhythm rather than an erratic one. Agate is a banded variety of chalcedony within the quartz family, formed through successive layers of silica deposited within a cavity over time. It is common industry practice for coloured agate to be dyed or otherwise colour-enhanced to achieve vivid, saturated tones. Agate has been worked continuously since ancient Mesopotamia for seals, amulets and inlay. Commercial sources include Brazil, India, the USA, Mexico and Germany, with this piece from Brazil.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuturaSol Standard\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEach natural stone is selected for its authenticity, geological integrity, and energetic clarity. Natural variations in colour, structure, inclusions, and surface features are inherent to geological materials and contribute to the individuality of each piece. Any known treatments, enhancements, stabilization, or man-made characteristics are clearly disclosed within the product information where applicable. Every piece is inspected and photographed to reflect its true character; however, lighting conditions, screen settings, and natural variation may cause slight differences in appearance. If you have any questions about a piece before completing your purchase, we're always here to help. Where authenticity meets beauty, we tell you exactly what you're holding.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AuturaSol","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48009064251622,"sku":"30230015-AS-OFF2-A1-979G","price":55.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/7200\/5350\/files\/42979c23-21cd-4eab-b8be-14972886b30a.png?v=1786717192","url":"https:\/\/auturasol.com\/products\/blue-agate-geode-half-16","provider":"AuturaSol","version":"1.0","type":"link"}