Botswana Banded Agate

Botswana Banded Agate hand cut and polished. Set in .925 Silver.

Necklace is 18"

Center stone is approximately 2" x 1.50"

Botswana agate, a type of banded agate, began forming in African volcanoes over 187 million years ago. The agate's distinctive banding pattern is created by layers of minerals that form over time in cavities left by trapped gas in volcanic lava. As lava waves slowly overflowed onto lower agate stone over millions of years, the weight and pressure of the lava created tubes, pits, and pockets in the lower layers. These pockets allowed multiple layers to form in smooth, round shapes, creating the agate's intricate bands. The colors of the stone are a result of impurities and trace minerals present during the formation process.