Agate belongs to quartzite materials and consists of a mixture of crystalline and fibrous quartz, chalcedony and opal. In the Czech Republic, you can find classic agates with concentric, wavy, eye-shaped or, more rarely, horizontal stripes. Agate pseudomorphs after barite are also common, the rarest of which is the ‘lightning agate’ from Rot Halze. Tiny agates can also be found in jasper, silicified wood and ferruginous quartz.
Agates from the Giant Mountains are usually associated with andesite or basalt from the Carboniferous period. Another name is melaphyre or mandelite. This rock is characterised by ‘almond-shaped’ or gas-filled cavities filled with a gelatinous quartz solution. This process took place after the rock had solidified. The parts accessible to surface water, which contained volcanic glass, dissolved and became enriched with silica, which gradually penetrated into small crevices in the rock at depth. Their gradual precipitation created agates of various sizes. There are also so-called Hausachate, which are pseudomorphoses of quartz after barite, and mossachates (chalcedony and agate with chlorite dendrites).
Ore Mountain agates accompany iron ores that were mined here in the past. These are so-called pseudomorphs of quartz after the original minerals were mined. Usually, it is barite (red and black halze, cibousov, mytinka) or calcite (amethyst-coloured halze). This mineral was gradually replaced and its surroundings were also filled with agate. They occur in veins and are accompanied by crystallised quartz.
Astrology: Taurus, Scorpio
Chakra: Base
Esoteric properties: symbolises belonging to nature, awakens imagination and creativity, gives courage and endurance, strengthens the instinct for self-preservation, protects against unwanted influences, teaches noble behaviour, helps to learn from criticism, protects against false friends.
Health-related esoteric properties: helps to protect expectant mothers, reduces fever and alleviates feverish infections, alleviates pain and helps to prevent allergic reactions, alleviates depressive states, alleviates aggressive behaviour, promotes metabolism.
