mexicogemstones' Profile

Total Feedback 0 Bonanzling since 05/21/11 Last seen 02/28/12 Send message

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  I was born in Durango,Mexico
  Direct my mines in Mexico, do not buy from middlemen, precious stones, are being more expensive to go hand in hand, always buy direct from the mine.
  Do not be fooled the real fire agate is iridescent play of colors and likeness of opal, all these other stones called "fire agate" obviously are not, is just a scam by unscrupulous traders.

  What is Fire Agate?

  Fire agate is a brown, microcrystalline quartz (chalcedony) which has a botryoidal (grape-like) growth form, and which contains layers of plate-like crystals of iron oxide (limonite) in various planes within it. The layers are small enough that light entering them forms interference colors known as "fire." The iridescent colors of red, gold, green and rarely, blue-violet, result from interference between diffracted light rays traveling through and reflecting off of these thin layers. (We see the same effect when looking at the rainbow colors at the surface of an oily puddle of water; or in the "orient" created by the layers of nacre on the surface of pearl.) Looking at a fire agate is much like looking down into the burning embers of a fire, which is exactly how it got its name. The gem is thought to be formed when hot water saturated with colloidal silica and iron oxide invades cavities in country rock and begin to cool. Chalcedony with iron oxide begins to grow on any available surface (the iron oxide gives the basic brown color to the gem). As the solutions began to precipitate and grow layers of silica and iron oxide would be deposited depending on the relative level of those elements in solution and underlying conditions. These alternating silica and iron oxide layers (Schiller layers)) cause the brilliant fire in the gem. As iron oxide ran out in the solution colorless chalcedony continued to grow.

  Definition-Schiller layers: One of a series of layers formed by sedimenting particles that exhibit bright colors in reflected light, because the layers are separated by approximately equal distances, with the distances being of the same order of magnitude as the wavelength of visible light. Also known as iridescent layer.

  Fire agate is found only in the US Southwest —the land between Kingman, Arizona and Needles, California and around the Colorado River— and Mexico. It wasn't sold commercially until after World War II.

  Fire Agate is one of the most difficult opaque materials to cut properly. In order to best reveal the colors, the overlying layers of chalcedony must be very carefully removed from the botryoidal surface creating a freeform shape with a carved upper surface. Just a bit too much material removed kills the iridescence and too much left on dulls it. Such painstaking treatment requires substantially more time per piece by the lapidary, and tends to elevate cost. This type of fashioning also leads to a lack of calibrated pieces and has prevented the use of this gem in mass produced jewelry items. This, combined with the fact that it is found in so few locations, keeps it scarce and mostly unknown to the general public.

  It is very long wearing and tough material which may be worn every day.

  Agate - Fire: Healing & Metaphysical Properties

  Fire Agate is a grounding and protecting stone with a deep calming energy. It is said to build a protective shield around the body, deflecting ill-wishing and harm and reflecting it back to its source.

  Fire Agate is also believed to instill courage and spiritual fortitude, to reduce fear and to encourage feelings of security and safety. In addition it is said to stimulate energy and life force and to increase sexual vitality.

  In healing, Fire Agate is believed to aid stomach and circulatory problems. It is also thought to help reduce cravings and may be of benefit in the treatment of addictions and destructive desires.

  Sources: answers.com; www.crystalwellbeing.co.uk; bwsmigel; wikipedia.org; yourgemologist.com
  This is now possible thanks to the Internet, it is said that the Internet changed everything!
  Internet is the death of an intermediary.
  About the fire agate;
  What also makes fire agates unique is that they are only found in the south western USA and northern Mexico. Unlike agates which are found in many parts of the world and were known and adored by ancient civilizations such as the Romans and Greeks, fire agates are a relatively new gemstone. They were discovered in the 1950’s, but their success as commercially sold gemstones didn’t take off until the late 1960’s. Today they can be worth from 35$-500$ per carat depending on quality and color.

  I was born in Durango, Mexico at Cerro del Mercado, according to J. Arem,(COLOR ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GEMSTONES, 1st Edition - By Joel E. Arem,) the gemologist, Durango is the only major source in the world for Apatite lemon yellow.

  My paternal grandmother's name was Maria del Refugio, she was born with the last century and married a Frenchman from Lorraine, she was very Catholic and had a big house with garden and many saints rock miners led him to give away because it was very good and wanted, she put the stones forming the holy shrines, and saints michos had had many stones. Thus was born and raised in my grandmother's house, seeing the holy altar with precious stones, these are my memories as a child and the origin of my interest in gemstones. When he died she left me the stones and their faith in Christ and that is what I have now.

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  El Paso.TX

  
  

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