All About Black Agate

Black agate is one of the stones of the vast family of chalcedony, the basis of which is the most common mineral quartz. These ornamental and semiprecious stones have a layered structure, however, in the black variety, layers and stripes are almost invisible. Such a peculiar color gives a high manganese content. To meet a black variety in nature is a great success, because it is the rarest. Agate has long been used by esotericists and lithotherapists, a methodology for its use in accordance with the signs of the zodiac has been developed. The popularity of the stone caused attempts to obtain its original color artificially, based on more common varieties.

Black agate is an unusual mineral, as already mentioned bands typical for agates and layers in it are hardly noticeable. Even velvety black color due to the matte luster of the stone gives a striking effect of depth. The mineral looks like a kind of fragment of a bottomless other space, as if it absorbs the light incident on it. Not everyone is able to consider black agate for a long time, it was this indescribable effect of immersion that made agate one of the attributes of magic rituals.

It’s hard not to notice the jewelry made of it; they are certainly paid attention to. Agate is able to emphasize precisely the business style, to set up appropriate communication with those who wear it. It was this property that made it attractive to the rulers of antiquity. It is difficult to imagine the frivolous treatment of a person wearing a ring or crown with black agate.

Such a specific value for a person stems from the physical properties of black agate that are unexpected for the quartz, of which it mainly consists. It is not transparent, in addition, the stone has a natural matte sheen. Only polishing can make the stone shine glass.

Most black agates, nevertheless, have lighter inclusions (from grayish to white), usually located in layers or rings. There are so-called stellate inclusions. Absolutely black or, as they say, carbon black agates are very rare.

Deposits of agates are on all continents. However, the quality of the stones is different everywhere. A very rare coal-black variety is not found in all deposits. Sicily became one of the most famous areas for black agate mining. It is believed that the name of the stone comes from the Sicilian river Agates. Currently, black agates are known from deposits in India, Georgia, Tajikistan, Brazil, Uruguay. Agate is obtained in the Crimea. Some of the best black agates are mined in Mongolia.

Black agate is considered to be one of the strongest magic stones. Apply it in magic rituals began in ancient times. In Europe, it was called the stone of witches and sorcerers. It was believed that it protects from the poison of snakes and scorpions. Agate powder was used to alleviate the suffering of women in labor.

And to this day, stone is widely used by lithotherapists to treat a number of diseases: insomnia, depression, childhood fear, weakened immunity, impotence, metabolic problems (obesity and anorexia). Moreover, to obtain a therapeutic effect, the stone does not have to be worn at all; you can drink water in which agate has been lying all night. Black agate necklaces or beads can be helpful for toothaches and coughing fits.

Since ancient times, one of the recognized magical properties of black agate is considered to be its ability to awaken the hidden possibilities of man, to open the gift of clairvoyance. A stone donated to another person can transmit both energy and even the thoughts of the donor.

Stone magic is based on its ability to actively absorb negative energy directed at its owner. In this case, he protects as a talisman, prolonging life, however, having fallen into other hands, begins to give up the negative accumulated by him and then it really becomes dangerous. Black agate is considered a very effective means of protection against energy vampires. People who feel the need to suppress someone else’s energy experience a subconscious antipathy to this stone. A person wearing agate gains a kind of protective field that blocks it from various influences at the level of the etheric body.

Black agate is very useful for people whose life is burdened with the burden of leadership, helping to make informed decisions and weakening inevitable emotions, it is able to significantly improve leadership qualities.

For this, a person was offered some time to watch this stone inseparably.

The gem was an amulet in some aristocratic families of ancient and medieval Europe. In ancient India, black agate was considered a stone of leaders. And today, the ring from it is an attribute of various kinds of spiritual mentors and gurus. Among the ancient inhabitants of Europe - the Germans, the mineral was considered to be able to strengthen marriage bonds. The outgoing warrior presented jewelry from it to his wife, and she usually gave him an agate ring in response. It was a kind of vow of fidelity.

Agate was also used in the rituals of the druids.Archaeological finds of stones with runes deposited on them are known, so the ancient Celts tried to strengthen the magical effect of the runes. In Georgia, it was customary to give jewelry with this stone to a newborn as a talisman against dark forces.

As a talisman, the mineral is not suitable for everyone. To a person with unkind intentions, trying to outwit others, creating an image that is not supported by internal good aspirations, a stone definitely will not work. Strengthening the negativity that comes from man, he will not allow him to play a role, on the contrary, he will help to reveal the true essence of his master.

Since ancient times, the mineral has been used as an ornamental stone. Jewelry from it - rings, pendants, necklaces perfectly match the exquisite dress and business suit. Thanks to its deep black color, the mineral emphasizes the classic style. In addition, agate combines well with other stones, and red copper is considered to be the best frame, although it is sent to noble silver and gold. Large specimens of agate are used for the manufacture of dishes and even for decoration.

Black agate will suit a strong and, of course, charismatic man, accustomed to relying on his mind. The stone will not only emphasize masculinity, but will also contribute to the adoption of informed decisions, activating intuition. However, you should not think that this is a purely "male" stone. He successfully reveals the properties of any person, regardless of gender. If the owner of the stone notices the tarnishing of its surface, this can be regarded as a signal about a violation of interaction with the outside world, about the need to adjust its life course.

The effect of the mineral on representatives of different signs of the zodiac is also not the same.

• Aries can hope for wisdom, especially men. Women of this sign agate will give sensuality and a sense of confidence. Some astrologers do not recommend Aries to wear black agate due to the opposite energy of the stone.
• Capricorns with the help of agate receive new opportunities in self-development and even in professional activities.
• Gemini and Sagittarius stone can direct on a truly true path. However, for Sagittarius, as well as for Aries, a stone can be contraindicated.
• Crayfish and Pisces with the help of agate can significantly strengthen self-confidence, for them this is a real talisman. Fish with its help can gain clairvoyance.
• Short temper Lviv can also be tempered with black agate. However, Lions should not wear a stone all the time, its effect can enter into a discord with the energy of this sign. Instead of help, you can get a strong anchor that stops all sorts of emotional outbursts.
• Virgo stone will help to establish personal life and strengthen family ties.
• For Libra, it is useful as a universal means of healing.
• Scorpios can gain determination and patience in completing many of their endeavors.
• Aquarians with his help get the opportunity to get rid of depression and confidently move through life.
• The Taurus can achieve the greatest effect from the use of the black variety; it is really their stone. It is to the representatives of this sign that agate will fully reveal its properties both as a talisman and as an assistant in business.

All the positive properties of the stone "work" only in a clean environment. By actively absorbing the negative, the stone is capable of distorting its energy, so you need to carefully wear it in a clearly aggressive environment, in this case it is better to hide agate from prying eyes in a pocket or under clothes.

Black agate has been faked for centuries. As the rarest of the entire family of layered gems, it has spawned a number of technologies that seek to replace cheaper fakes. The basis of a fake can be a natural stone and also agate, but of lighter varieties.Light agates are turned into black, keeping them in sugar syrup and then processing with sulfuric acid. Such fakes find themselves dipped in water, paint is washed off from them.

Sometimes for the manufacture of fake stone use processing waste - stone chips. One way to identify such a fake of artificial origin may be to scratch the stone with a needle. The fake will start to crumble.

Of these stones, beads are often made. If the beads are completely absent more light, and sometimes reddish stripes - this is most likely a fake. You can detect a fake made of glass or plastic by holding a stone in your hand. Real agate will heat up slowly and for a long time keep the feeling of cold emanating from it.

Sometimes onyx is given out as black agate. Indeed, both are varieties of an extensive group of chalcedony. Both have a layered structure. They can be distinguished by their brilliance, onyx is glass, and agate has a more pronounced matte gloss. Onyx bands are always thin and run in parallel. In agate, the thickness of the strips is usually greater; their stretching is more chaotic. The most effective way to expose fake stones is to study them under a microscope.

Caring for black agate is easy. If the stone is used as a talisman, it will periodically have to be “cleaned". For energy cleaning of agate, it must be washed in spring water and put to dry on the windowsill. Having lain the night, the stone will restore its properties. Agate jewelry also needs to be washed. To do this, use a warm soapy solution. Do not use chemical detergents. The surface of the stone can react and after a series of procedures will begin to collapse.

The mineral negatively reacts to temperature differences, the layered structure contributes to uneven heating and cooling of the stone. This leads to cracking and stratification of the stone. A black agate product must not be heated at all. Although it is not fragile, it is better to protect the product from bumps and scratches. Steel, another harder stone, can leave a scratch on the surface of the stone.

See below for more on the magical properties of black agate.