Spotlight on | Botswana Agate
You up?
Forget the 2am booty call and reach for the Botswana Agate instead. Also known as the Sunset Stone for its ability to retain sunlight, Botswana Agate will bring comfort on those dark and lonely nights.
The History of Botswana Agate
Known as the most royal of agates, Botswana Agate is famed for its history, scarcity and beauty. The volcanic activity responsible for these unique specimens dates back hundreds of millions of years. But, while Botswana’s igneous stones did start off as volcanic flow, they didn’t originally come from your standard mountainous volcano.
In the case of Botswana Agate, the lava flowed out in waves from long faults found within the lower layers of rock and rolled from here across the landscape. Layers of Silica and Quartz were created, and it’s this that is responsible for the fine banding and patterns of Botswana Agate that make them so unique.
Banded Agates have been used for cameo and intaglio carving for thousands of years. The layers of colour revealed in carving are paramount to the design, while the stone's hardness is prized for its durability. Banded agates, worn plain as well as carved, have been used as talismans and amulets since the rise of the ancient Greeks.
Recognising Botswana Agate
Botswana Agate stone is a variation of banded Chalcedony, one of the Quartz family minerals. Found predominantly in the mines of - who would of guessed it - Botswana, these stones are famous for the extra fine banding of white, black, shades of grey and occasional touches of pink or salmon.
Banded Agate has a hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale.
What is Botswana Agate used for?
Arachnophobes, rejoice! Botswana Agate is traditionally believed to ward off creepy crawlies. Plus, Agates were used in ancient times as talismans to protect the wearer from storms, to quench thirst and to bring good luck, all pretty important things for surviving in the subtropics of Africa back in the day.
On the metaphysical side, BA is commonly used to improve attention to detail, increase positivity and waken your sense of adventure.
Even though Botswana Agate has a lower intensity and slower frequency than other gemstones, its strengthening and steadying influence will give you inner stability and the power to “suck it up”; especially when you feel like everything around you is falling apart.
Keeping you feeling strong and brave, this stone’s healing energies bring the composure and maturity to stay calm and collected, especially when it feels like your life is imploding. Inviting you to see the bigger picture, use your Botswana Agate to channel that Bob Marley feeling… because every little thing is gonna be alright.
