Grape Agate is the name given to the Botryoidal Purple Chalcedony/Quartz discovered in Indonesia.
Colors range from dark purple to light lilac or lavender. Very rarely green colored specimens are found within a purple vein, as well as bi-colored green & purple pieces. These are amongst the rarest.
The name reflects their color & how they form in clusters resembling bunches of grapes. This material is found in the Mamuju area, near the western coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The “grapes” of these specimens are tiny. They range between about two & eight mm across.
And although purple is the best color to match the “grape” name, some specimens have grapes that are white, gray, green, or blue.
The actual volcanic rock in which the agate is found consists of Andesite pillow lava, which formed when molten basalt from Miocene volcanoes flowed into cold seawater. Andesite lava behaves differently than basalt; it is more viscous due to its mineral makeup, so when it produced pillow formations on Sulawesi, voids were left between individual pillows. It is in these voids that the grape agate formed. Tectonic interaction between the oceanic & continental plates subsequently thrust the Andesite flows upward into the band of mountains that today form the west side of Sulawesi island.
Spiritually, Grape Agate is considered a tranquil & gentle stone. It is said to promote inner stability, composure, & maturity. It’s warm, protective properties encourage security & self-confidence. It allows for deep & intense levels of meditation in a short period of time. Grape Agate is a crystal of dreams, intuition, and luxury.
