Description
Dulcote Agate Tortoise
This carved Dulcote Agate Tortoise is made from a lovely piece of this rare pink British agate. Dulcote Agate from Somerset’s Mendip hills is famous for its colour and its unique mesmerising markings. The tortoise utilises these wavy ‘botryoidal’ patterns in a way that makes it a real work of art. Sometimes referred to as ‘Somerset Potato Stone’ this carving would be a perfect gift for anyone with a love of British Minerals. Or Tortoises!
Dulcote Quarry is in the Mendip Hills but sadly closed a number of years ago. The quarry was famous in its day for producing some of the finest Agate specimens in the UK. The Agate Nodules that occur in this area near Wells in Somerset were formed in red marly clays overlying the Carboniferous Limestone. They date back to the Triassic Period around 200 million years ago. At this time this area was near the equator with a tropical climate.
Agates commonly occur in nodules within volcanic and metamorphic rocks. Gas bubbles trapped within the cooling rocks leave cavities which are then filled by water containing silica. As the layers of silica build up they create the typical bands of colour within. When the silica isn’t able to completely penetrate the cavity, they result in hollow crystal lined geodes. The principal components of the different varieties of agate are quartz and chalcedony. The colourful varieties of agate frequently seen in jewellery include, Moss Agate, Blue Lace Agate and also Green Agate.
Metaphysically, a stone famous for its soothing and for its calming abilities. This is a stone for eliminating negative energies and transforming negativity into positivity. Additionally it can also help to increase concentration and perception.
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