Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c14.s3.6

v1.c14.s3.6

Agate is banded chalcedony and under this head are included opal, carnelian, crystal, onyx and milky quartz, which are only different names for differently coloured banded chalcedony. Constitutionally these are crypto-crystalline silica. Onyx is identified as such from the parallel bands of the same or different hues. It is difficult to work on agate as its texture is complex, but if properly handled, some of the most attractive types can be produced in agate. A common type among agate bead is the standard-barrel lenticular. In some cases the circular section are flattened, resulting in an elliptical section. Agate takes a very high polish. It is likely that the well-polished but unbored bead-like objects found at Lothal were used as ring-stones. The Rajpipla agate-bearing conglomerate and gravels contain rich crypto-crystalline varieties of silica; these were imported by the lapidaries of Lothal through Bhagatrav. Other sources are Rangpur of Ahmedabad district and Kapadvanj in Kaira district. The varieties used by the Lothal folk are different. The most important types in agate are the standard barrel with a lenticular section, convex cone with a plano-convex section, the cylinder and the ‘boot-shaped’ ones. (Rao, 585)