Agate Crystal

Agates – Inexpensive and Beautiful Stones for Today’s Fashion Jewelry

Agate jewelry has been very popular for several centuries now. Jewelry designers choose this stone because it is readily available virtually on all continents, it is relatively inexpensive, and can be found in a wide range of patterns and colors. To further increase its popularity, the stone can be colored and treated to improve its appearance, and to make the colors move vivid. Agates today are often framed in sterling silver settings to create beautiful silver pendants, brooches, pins, and a variety of other jewelry items. The color and pattern combinations available in nature give jewelry designers an opportunity to express their creative and artistic talents and tastes through the superb jewelry that they produce. Jewelers typically prefer to cut the stone into cabochons or beads; facet cut pieces are rarely used. It is interesting to note however, that the use of agates for jewelry and other ornamental purposes also occurred to the Ancients. For examples, records show that the Sumerians and Egyptians used agate as part of their burial rituals. Artifacts found from archaeological digs include amulets, jars, and other ornamental pieces.

Agates are a form of silicon dioxide or quartz. Since quartz is found in great abundance throughout the world, it is logical that agates are found in a multitude of countries around the world. The structure of agates can best be described as cryptocrystalline or microcrystalline. In plain English, this means that the quartz crystals in the stone are so tiny that they certainly cannot be seen by the naked eye, and in fact, are invisible even under low magnification. This crystalline structure makes agates particularly strong. Typical agates have a hardness of about 7 on the Mohs’ scale. Most agates are opaque, or in some rare instances, translucent. The colors defy imagination – ranging from whites and creams to bright blues, hues of purple, and bright red. The complex patterns and vivid colors of Botswana agates are well known in the world of jewelry. Agates generally occur as nodules and veins. If the layers of quartz are concentric, the stone is cut to reveal the banded or striped patterns associated with jewelry grade agates. Madagascar, India, China, Russia and Australia are some of the largest producers of agates in the world today.

The myths, folklore, and legend associated with agates are rivaled only by the colors and patterns in which they are found. In the old days, agates were believed to help protect the wearer and promote strength and healing. The stone is also believed to protect the wearer from bad dreams. There is a quite energy associated with agate, and the stone is particularly beneficial to subtle bodies. Agates also help promote positive energy and optimism.

About the Author

Dale is a geo-professional in the Southwestern United States, and an avid and amateur gemmologist and a silver jewelry buff.

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Red Agate Slice Coaster Set of Four Carnelian Stones Gift Boxed $46.95 Decorating with natural stone will bring positive energy flow throughout your home or work place. This unique item will make a great gift for any occasion. Use them for displaying crystals or other items for added sparkle. Set of 4 agate slices with rubber bumpers on the bottom to protect furniture….

Agate Geode OCCOs 1 Kilo (2.2 lbs) Assorted 5 to 9 Pieces – Grade B $65.00 This is a great selection of 5 to 9 pieces that weigh approx 1 kilo (2.2 lbs). Wonderful decorative item to place around the house. Since these are natural stones no two are alike and each order there will be differences. All specimens are beautifully polished on one side….

Redneck Wineglass with Amethyst Healing Crystals Nugget Stone Charm Comes Gift Boxed $18.95 Amethyst – Strengthens endocrine and immune system. Powerful blood cleanser & energizer. Helps mental disorders. Enhances psychic and channeling abilities. Calming; excellent for meditation. The jar is a Ball 1/2 pint and the height is 8 inches. Special orders can be requested for wedding or bulk buys. These go great with my agate coaster sets for an unusual gift. Packaged in a gift box ready…

Quoizel Pomez Rod Hung Agate Stone Shade Pendant Chandelier $197.99 Genuine Quoizel agate stones are arranged by skilled craftsman to create this uniquely appealing look. Each stone is hand-selected for quality and size, cut in half, placed in a tumbler for 72 hours to make smooth and round, hand-polished and then distinctively placed to achieve a dramatic effect….

Cal Crystal AKG4-LA Lace Agate Artisan Gem 1-3/4 Glazed Porcelain Mushroom Knob from the Artisan Ge 1-3/4″ Whimsical Glazed Porcelain Mushroom KnobThis beautiful handmade knob from the Artisan Gem collection features a stunning multi-color glossy glaze. The unique color and texture of the Artisan knob derives from the use of glazes created for art pottery, not commercial ceramics. Some variation in color is expected and we hope appreciated as part of the handmade character of these pieces. When …

Stones Crystals

Dog Cystitis With Bladder Stones – Dog Health

Look out for the following symptoms of dog cystitis with bladder stones (crystals):

1. The dog may go to the toilet a lot more than it does usually.
2. It may struggle to produce any urine
3. There may be a small amount of blood in the urine that is produced.

Small crystals forming on blood cells and bladder lining cells are what cause bladder stones or urolith in your dog’s bladder. Bladder stones can be caused by either a too high acidic level or a very low one and in some cases they even form irrespective of the pH levels in the dog’s urine. There are six different types of bladder stones that can be formed.

A dog’s urine contains several normal chemicals which form these crystals but these crystals will only form at certain pH levels and they will require something to attach to and grow on.

The lining of the dog’s bladder constantly gets rid of old cells and forms new one this gives the crystals something to attach to and grow on. The crystals can attach to one of these dead cells and continue to grow from being microscopic to the size of a golf ball in cases where they are left untreated.

These crystals, when formed, will have sharp edges causing inflammation and burning of the bladder due to these sharp edges constantly scratching and aggravating the bladder lining.

The bladder contracts due to the aggravation and burning and it makes the dog feel like it needs to urinate but the bladder contains little or no urine. Furthermore, there may be a small amount of blood in the urine due to the ruptured blood vessels caused by the inflamed muscles.

If your dog is a male there are chances that the bladder stones can travel from the bladder down into the urethra. The risk of this is that these stones may become wedged into a cylindrical bone that the urethra travels through and cause severe pain to the dog as it obstructs its urine. If this happens the bladder stones will be too be removed urgently before the bladder bursts or the toxins in the urine kills the dog.

The vet will normally ask for a urine sample when the dog is suspected to have this condition. This urine sample will be tested for blood, acidic levels and glucose.

These samples will help the vet in determining whether inflammation is the problem if blood cells are found in the urine or whether the dog is diabetic has a relatively high level of glucose in its urine making it vulnerable to cystitis since glucose helps the bacteria grow and requires a separate type of treatment. The urine sample will also help the vet determine whether the acidity levels in the urine are enough to fight the bacteria.

After the presence of inflammation and cystitis have been confirmed due to the initial testing the dog can be treated by either the appropriate antibiotics or further tests can be conducted to check for bladder stones. These further tests include ultrasound, x-rays and using a small camera which will be passed through the bladder of the dog.

The vet may be able to determine the type of bladder stones present in the dog by the amount of pH levels in its urine. Another method of checking for the type of bladder stones present in the dog is to remove the larger ones and send them for further testing.

If the bladder stones have moved down to the urethra of the male dog the vet may need to push a need through the abdominal wall and into the dog’s bladder to remove some of the urine and ease the dog’s pain and discomfort. After this, the vet will try to slide the bladder stones back into the bladder by using a catheter and flushing the urethra with water and then later operating on the bladder.

If this procedure fails then the vet may have to resort to a more risky surgery on the urethra itself in order to remove the blockage caused by the bladder stones.

After the surgery has been performed and the dog has been given the appropriate medicine the vet will probably put the dog on a special type of food in order to correct the amount of pH levels in its urine. Furthermore, in accordance with previous test results the vet may also prescribe antibiotics.

About the Author

For more information on Dog Cystitis With Bladder Stones or Dog Health take a look at this Dog Training website.

Healing with Crystals and Stones

Stolzle Glencairn Whiskey Glass Boxed $4.99 Utilizing over 200 years of glass making knowledge, Stözle once again impresses all with this Glencairn whiskey glass. Winner of the 2006 Queen’s Award for Innovation, the glass showcases a simple elegance that complements your favorite whiskey. It has a stylish, short base stand, and the glass is made of completely transparent and lead-free crystal, which brings an uncommon luster to the eye….

Glencarin Crystal Whiskey Glass, Set of 4 $21.40 Utilizing over 200 years of glass making knowledge, Stözle once again impresses all with this Glencairn whiskey glass. Winner of the 2006 Queen’s Award for Innovation, the glass showcases a simple elegance that complements your favorite whiskey. It has a stylish, short base stand, and the glass is made of completely transparent and lead-free crystal, which brings an uncommon luster to the eye. S…

DMT Crystal Saver- Diamond File $15.84 Smooth out chips with just a dip. The crystal saver has a nickel file coated with diamond particles. Dipped in water it will smooth chipped edges of fine crystal china ceramics or glassware with a few easy strokes….

The Help (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) $18.40 In 1960s Mississippi, a young journalist (Emma Stone) decides to write a book about the black maids who have spent their lives taking care of white children. As the best friend of one of the employers (Bryce Dallas Howard), she faces the risk of being shunned by her society friends–all of whom have servants gathering the courage to participate in the secret literary project. Adapted from the Kath…

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