Onyx is a black and white banded variety of Chalcedony, a cryptocrystalline form of Quartz with dense, fibrous layers and a hardness of 7. It is also defined as a black and white banded Agate, also a variety of Chalcedony. They differ only in that Onyx’s alternating layers are parallel to one another while Agate’s layers are curved and more chaotic. While many think of Onyx as a solid black stone, the term refers to the Chalcedony banded black and white. A variant form in which white layers of Onyx alternate with Sard (a reddish-brown Chalcedony) is called Sardonyx. Both have been known and utilized for over 4,000 years for hardstone carving, stone inlay, and jewelry, treasured most for their use in intaglio seals and cameo engraved gems where the white bands are carved away to make the image contrast with the dark background. In some specimens black Onyx may be layered with Sard, and in many cases material may be a combination of all three.

 

 

Black agate is one types of agate a stone which included in the mineral Quartz family. Black agate has a meaning that symbolizes consistency, perseverance, fortitude, and calmness. Agate stone believed to have close links with the world of metaphysics that help to protects from evil and give courage.

 

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I am not a Gemologist or a Lapidary. Gemstones were identified at the time of purchase by the supplier. Any errors, discrepancies, or omissions are not intentional. All gemstone meanings, metaphysical properties and associated verbiage are not claims of fact but have been gathered from writing, books, folklore and various sources.