INFORMATION
Blue agate : Origin and characteristics
Natural formation : Agate is a variety of quartz belonging to the chalcedony family. It forms in rock cavities where successive layers of silica precipitate, creating the characteristic concentric bands.
Colours and patterns : Les agates bleues présentent une palette allant du bleu pâle presque translucide à des teintes profondes rappelant le ciel ou l’océan. Certaines peuvent avoir des bandes blanches ou grises, ajoutant un effet visuel unique.
Origin : Blue agates come mainly from countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, India and Madagascar. These regions are renowned for producing high-quality stones.
PROPERTIES AND BENEFITS OF BLUE AGATE
Blue agates are prized not only for their aesthetic appeal, but also for their alleged energising and soothing properties.
Spiritual and energetic benefits :
- Calm and serenity : Blue agate is said to promote relaxation and reduce stress. It is often used in lithotherapy to balance emotions.
- Communication : Combined with the throat chakra, it is thought to help you express yourself more clearly and boost your self-confidence.
- Harmony : As a soft stone, it is used to bring soothing energy to domestic environments.
- Durability : With a hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, it is robust enough to be used in marble projects such as wall cladding, worktops and table tops.
FOR USE IN MARBLE WORK AND DECORATION
Aesthetics and design :
- Blue agate is often used in the form of polished slabs, which highlight its unique patterns.
- It is ideal for high-end decorative applications, such as kitchen splashbacks, furniture tops, or backlit wall panels. The natural translucency of some blue agate slabs makes them perfect for spectacular light effects.
Laying by the square metre or to measure :
- By the square metre : Sheets are cut to standard sizes, often used to cover uniform surfaces.
- Tailor-made : In this case, the blue agate is cut and shaped to the customer's specific requirements, with precise finishes.
Preparation and installation process :
- Cutting : Raw blue agate is cut using diamond-cutting machines to prevent cracks.
- Polishing : Surfaces are polished to reveal the depth of colour and natural lustre of the stone.
- Reinforcement : In some cases, sheets are reinforced at the back with resin or glass to improve their stability, particularly for backlit projects.
- Fixing : Blue agate is fixed with adhesives suitable for natural stones, often epoxy or special marble-making silicone, to guarantee durability.
