Botswana agate, golf ball size and smaller

Description

Botswana Agate is a variety of banded Chalcedony, a mineral of the Quartz family. It is predominantly banded in shades of pink and gray, though some layers may contain a muted brown or apricot.

Named for the area in Africa where it is mined, Botswana Agate is called the Sunset Stone because it retains sunlight and comforts people through dark, lonely nights. It was traditionally used in African fertility ceremonies to encourage potency and the conception of strong, healthy offspring.

The volcanic activity that produced these lovely stones dates back nearly 187 million years ago, and though the igneous stones of Botswana began as volcanic flow, they did not originate from normal, mountainous volcanoes. Rather the lava flowed in waves from long faults along the lower rock layers and rolled across the landscape, depositing layer upon layer of Silica/Quartz, creating the extra fine banding and patterns which make Botswana Agates highly unique and desirable. Some collectors consider them royalty among Agates.