Description
Genuine Banded Agate Shallow Dish
This elegant Banded Agate shallow dish is a hand-polished piece crafted from genuine natural agate, showcasing intricate layers of colour and translucent banding unique to this remarkable mineral. The dish is beautifully finished to reveal the fine rhythmic patterns that define agate, making it both a functional and decorative crystal item. The photograph shows the exact specimen you will receive. All of our crystals are 100% genuine specimens and come with a Certificate of Authenticity.
Geological and Mineralogical Background
Agate is a cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz (SiO₂), belonging to the chalcedony family. It forms when silica-rich solutions percolate through cavities in volcanic rock, gradually depositing layers of microscopic quartz crystals. Over time, repeated deposition under varying mineral conditions produces the characteristic banded appearance. These concentric layers can range in colour from white, grey, and brown to hues of red, orange, and blue, depending on trace elements such as iron, manganese, or titanium.
Banded Agate is highly valued for its durability and polishability, owing to quartz’s Mohs hardness of 7. Its dense, fine-grained texture allows artisans to achieve a mirror-smooth finish, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and its tactile quality. The dish form is shaped directly from a solid slice of agate, highlighting its naturally occurring strata and patterns while maintaining the integrity of the mineral.
Appearance and Physical Characteristics
This Banded Agate dish displays beautiful concentric layers, ranging from semi-translucent white and soft beige to deep brown or smoky grey tones. The polished surface reveals intricate micro-banding and subtle changes in translucency that catch the light and create depth. The edges are smoothly rounded, allowing the piece to retain a natural organic feel while maintaining refined craftsmanship.
When illuminated, the dish exhibits delicate internal translucence, a hallmark of fine agate. Each ring and layer tells part of its geological story — a visual record of mineral deposition and slow crystal growth over millions of years. The polished surface enhances these features, creating a silky lustre ideal for decorative display or practical use as a trinket dish, offering bowl, or crystal charging plate.
Formation and Geological Context
Banded Agate forms within the cavities of igneous volcanic rocks, such as basalt or rhyolite. As silica-rich groundwater circulates through these cavities, it deposits layers of microcrystalline quartz along the inner walls. Each layer represents a change in the chemical composition or temperature of the mineralising fluids, resulting in the diverse banded patterns for which agate is renowned.
The geological environment responsible for agate’s creation is one of slow, consistent mineral deposition over long time scales — a process that can span millions of years. The resulting specimens are among the most visually diverse and geologically fascinating gemstones found in nature. Agate is sourced globally, with notable deposits in Brazil, Madagascar, India, and the United States, each region producing stones with distinct colouration and patterning.
Metaphysical and Healing Properties
Banded Agate is considered a stone of stability, grounding, and protection. It is believed to harmonise yin and yang energies, creating emotional balance and resilience. The intricate layers within the stone are said to symbolise strength through growth and transformation, encouraging calm, composure, and self-confidence.
In crystal healing practices, Agate is thought to stabilise the aura, cleanse energy fields, and promote clarity of thought. Its grounding energy aligns with the Root Chakra, helping to anchor and soothe during stressful or emotional times. The dish form enhances these qualities, serving as a vessel to hold other crystals, jewellery, or small spiritual items for cleansing and recharging.
Craftsmanship and Authenticity
Each dish is individually shaped and polished by skilled artisans to showcase the natural structure and beauty of the agate. The care taken in shaping ensures smooth edges, balanced thickness, and an even polish across the entire surface. Every piece is unique, with natural variations in colour, pattern, and translucence ensuring that no two dishes are ever identical.
Supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity, this Banded Agate shallow dish is a beautiful fusion of geology, craftsmanship, and timeless design. Ideal for collectors, home décor enthusiasts, or crystal healers, it serves as both a functional object and a natural work of art — embodying millions of years of Earth’s creative process.
Mineral Species: Quartz (SiO₂)
Variety: Banded Agate (Chalcedony)
Crystal System: Trigonal
Formation Type: Volcanic Cavity / Hydrothermal Deposition
Hardness: Mohs 7
Colour: Multi-layered bands of white, grey, beige, brown, and translucent quartz
Finish: Hand-polished
Authenticity: 100% genuine crystal – Certificate of Authenticity included
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.