Blue Agate Slab - 4.3 x 5.0 inch

An unpolished rind of mottled olive and moss green surrounds this Blue Agate Slab, left rough where the cut face has been finished smooth, so the piece carries two entirely different surfaces at once. Inside that green border the banding runs cool blue and grey in tight even rings around a pale, softly textured centre. The green is the outermost skin of the original host rock rather than the agate itself, and its earthy tone throws the blue interior into sharper relief than a dark rim would. The piece stands on a flat cut base at a compact, easily handled size.

Banded Agate is traditionally associated with balance and harmony, and with a grounding, protective quality. Compact pieces that retain their natural outer rind are often preferred by people who want the geological character of a specimen visible alongside the polished face, and this one suits a desk, bookshelf, or nightstand. Agate is commonly kept where it is seen and handled regularly, and at this scale the piece can be picked up and turned without difficulty.

Key Properties
Primary Focus: Balance & Harmony
Secondary Focus: Protection & Grounding
Chakra Association: Root, Sacral
Zodiac Sign: Gemini, Virgo
Chinese Zodiac: Tiger, Rooster
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Elements: Earth, Fire
Mohs Hardness: 7
Stone Family: Tectosilicate
Material: Banded Agate
Origin: Brazil
Form: Slice/Slab
Finish: Polished (front face only; back/rind unpolished)
Approximate Size: 109 mm (4.3 inches) H x 127 mm (5.0 inches) W
Approximate Weight: 905 g
Listing: Single unit

Geological Information
Banded Agate is microcrystalline quartz, silicon dioxide at Mohs 7, deposited in cyclic silica layers within a cavity in host rock. The green outer rind on this piece is residual basaltic host material, the wall of the original gas vesicle in which the agate formed, its colour derived from iron-magnesium silicate minerals altered by long weathering. Because agate is substantially harder than the surrounding basalt, that host material erodes away first in nature, which is why many recovered geodes arrive with only a thin remnant of it still attached. 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 is one of the most widely distributed minerals on Earth and among the oldest gemstones in recorded human use. Commercial sources include Brazil, India, the USA, Mexico and Germany, with this piece originating in Brazil.

AuturaSol Standard
Each 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.