As a member of the expansive agate family of gemstones, blue lace agate is quite a hard stone and measures high on the Mohr scale. While extremely durable, its light blue coloring gives it lovely soft, soothing elements reminiscent of perfect sky-blue waters.
Blue lace agate stones have plenty of meaning and healing properties. They have been used to promote positivity for hundreds of years.
Join us as we take a closer look at blue agate crystal, its origins, properties, and meaning.
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- What Is Blue Lace Agate?
- History of Blue Lace Agate
- Where Is Blue Lace Agate Found?
- Is Blue Lace Agate Rare?
- Where to Buy Blue Lace Agate Online?
- What Is The Meaning Of Blue Lace Agate?
- What Is Blue Lace Agate Good For?
- What Chakra Is Blue Lace Agate?
- How To Use Blue Lace Agate
- Physical Properties of Blue Lace Agate
- Formation Process
- Proper Care & Maintenance
- Is Blue Lace Agate A Birthstone?
- More Agate Stones
What Is Blue Lace Agate?
Just like every other member of the agate family, blue lace agate is a variety of banded Chalcedony and a quartz mineral. The gem has bands of layers of blue, most of which vary in hues from very light to bright almost sapphire blue. Occasionally, these stones also contain threads of brown.
Agate stones are sometimes called ‘the earth rainbow’. In its various forms, the colorful bands in nature created nearly every color that the earth can produce.
Historically, agate stones have been discovered amongst the artifacts of the Neolithic people and are known to have been used for the purposes of healing and ornamentation.
History of Blue Lace Agate
Blue Lace Agate may have been familiar to indigenous communities for hundreds of years, but its modern identification is attributed to Willy Preiss, a lapidary and prospector from Windhoek, Namibia’s capital. During a prospecting expedition in the 1960s, he unearthed a slim vein of blue and white agate, unfortunately, situated about 600 km from his lapidary shop, complicating the mining process.
In 1969, a deal was made with George Swanson, who had claimed a property, Ysterputs Farm, near the agate seam. Preiss proposed to cede the mine to Swanson if he would transport 50 tons of agates to Windhoek, leading to Swanson taking control of the seam.
Swanson named the blue crystal “Gem of Ecology“, inspired by its blue and white swirls that reminded him of clouds viewed from space, fitting for the era of the US-Soviet “Space Race”. Today, this stone is commonly referred to as Blue Lace Agate.
Where Is Blue Lace Agate Found?
Blue Lace Agate was first discovered in Namibia and the country is still where most natural variants of the blue agate stone are mined. However, it has also since been discovered in parts of India, South Africa, Brazil, China, and in a few places throughout the United States of America.
Is Blue Lace Agate Rare?
Other agate stones are available in abundance, but blue lace agate is relatively rare and becoming increasingly difficult to find. A few years ago, it was believed to have been almost completely mined out. However, there has been a recent discovery of the gems in South America.
As jewelers are finding it harder and harder to source blue lace agate, they are turning to dyed stones for a similar and more affordable effect.
Where to Buy Blue Lace Agate Online?
There are plenty of places to buy this gem online. From specialty online shops to online giants like Amazon.
Our recommendation is to browse Amazon first to get a sense of prices, variety, and quality. Then do a detailed comparison online. Another specialty retailer is TinyRituals, which only sells gemstones of grade AA or higher.
What Is The Meaning Of Blue Lace Agate?
Blue lace agate has several meanings that contribute to it being such a sought-after gem.
For one, the color of the stone is representative of feelings of calmness and tranquillity. It’s also cool to the touch, which many believe will aid in helping the stone’s bearer keep a cool and calm head.
The stone also has a number of other meanings, many of which have to do with a sense of renewal. These include:
- Unity
- Cleansing
- Hope
- Protection
- Harmony
- Optimism
- Positivity
- Appreciation for the natural world
- Purification
- Promptness
- A soothing flow of energy
- Joy
- Truth
What Is Blue Lace Agate Good For?
Blue agate crystal offers its bearers ‘emotional facelifts’. The stone is used as a means of healing and building strong emotional health in order to keep physical health in check.
This crystal is linked to the heart chakra, which helps all of us open up our energy levels to giving and receiving unconditional love. This is referred to as ‘the ultimate penicillin for soothing the pain and confusion that comes with the human condition’.
It’s believed that blue lace agate is a symbol of freedom and serenity, which lowers stress levels and in turn, can boost your immune system. For those who suffer from stage fright, hate public speaking, or feel they are lacking in confidence, blue lace agate is recommended. It’s said to help you verbalize yourself properly and communicate effectively by removing all stresses associated with communicative blockages.
In terms of physical health, blue lace agate is believed to help cure any ailments of the throat. It’s said to be able to calm and cool down the fiery burning of an itchy or scratchy throat.
What Chakra Is Blue Lace Agate?
Aside from the heart chakra, blue lace crystal is strongly connected to the throat chakra. The stone is often worn or kept in a pocket by public speaking professionals or those who require extensive use of their voices, such as singers, actors, and musicians.
The stone is said to release any fears of performing in front of others. It helps improve articulation, send calming energy to one’s nerves, and improve the clarity of one’s mind, aiding in concentration and helping them to think fast on their feet.
Plus, it helps to open up the flow of any under-active chakras and aids when it comes to over-active chakras. By balancing the energies, lace agate can help to heal children who are hyperactive or loud.
Blue lace agate is one of the most beneficial crystals for anyone battling with thoughts in meditation or overthinking. The stone’s soothing energy helps to ease overactive minds.
How To Use Blue Lace Agate
Blue lace agate can be used in a number of ways.
You can display it in a common room or area in a house to aid with effective communication between people. Or you can carry it in your pocket if you have to speak or perform in public.
Perhaps the most effective way to use blue lace crystal is by wearing it in or as a pendant around the neck or as close to the throat chakra as possible. This will go a long way in making sure that the crystal works best alongside the chakra.
Overall, lace agate makes for an excellent addition to any collection of blue gems. It’s beautiful and rare, which makes it all the more valuable.
It looks lovely when set in jewelry and adds a gorgeous flair to almost any spring or summer outfit, given its beautiful blue hues. However, the stone yields plenty of its own power that is beneficial to its bearer on a number of levels. It’s not just pretty to look at, it holds power too!
Physical Properties of Blue Lace Agate
- Mineral: Microcrystalline Quartz, Chalcedony Group
- Chemical Composition: SiO2
- Color: Blue, Banded Blue, Vivid Blue (Mostly Dyed)
- Hardness: 6-1/2 to 7 on the Moh Scale
- Specific Gravity:2.58 – 2.64
- Refractive Index: 1.530 – 1.539
- Opacity: Translucent to Opaque
Formation Process
The formation of Banded Agates, such as blue lace agates, is a slow, layered process. One layer of silica-rich solution solidifies, followed by the deposition of another layer on top, and this pattern repeats until the cavity is completely filled. These layers may incorporate varying trace elements or differing amounts of the same element, causing bands of distinct colors.
In Blue Lace Agate, subsequent geological events cause heating and softening of the initial agate, which leads to the warping and curving of the bands into their characteristic lacy design.
Proper Care & Maintenance
Agates are generally durable stones, making their cleaning straightforward. The optimal approach is to wash agates with warm, soapy water and employ a soft brush to eliminate additional dust or dirt.
While its soft hue might lead some to believe blue lace agate is more delicate than other agates, this assumption is misleading. Regardless of its color, it’s advisable to avoid potent cleaning agents, particularly if your agate has undergone any color enhancement or dyeing processes.
Is Blue Lace Agate A Birthstone?
Blue Lace Agate, while not a conventional birthstone, can be particularly advantageous for individuals born from the vernal equinox through the remainder of spring. This season embodies faith and trust, attributes that Blue Lace Agate may enhance, fostering patience and respect in those born during this period.
Blue Lace Agate also holds associations with the Zodiac signs of Gemini and Pisces. Notably, Geminis, often characterized as rapid thinkers with a unique charm, may occasionally exhibit moodiness or anxiety. Blue Lace Agate can serve as a balancing influence, mitigating these less positive traits.
More Agate Stones
If you love agate stones, have a look at these other unique agate gemstones:
Chermaine’s journey into the world of gemstones and crystals began as a child, collecting shimmering stones on family vacations. Today, she’s a certified gemologist and spiritual healer, intertwining the physical beauty of jewels with their metaphysical properties.
Chermaine has traveled to mines in Africa, marketplaces in India, and spiritual retreats in Bali, always seeking to deepen her understanding.