Slab – Chalcedony #3

Chalcedony is a colourful variation of the quartz type Agate. It can take on all the colours of the rainbow, for example pink, green or red, but the white-blue version from Namibia is the most famous. Characterising for Chalcedony, or lace agate, are the parallel lines in the stone, the laces. The name Chalcedony comes from the town called Chalcedon, near modern day Istanbul, where it was first discovered. The stone is known to man since ancient Greek and Roman times, when it was used for carvings and jewellery. The name of the stone is even mentioned once in the Bible. Lace agate is often found combined with other types of quartz like Rock Crystal. The colourful agate variety is often semi-see-through, this is visible when you hold the stone against light.