Onyx, SARD-onyx, Agate, Chalcedony…how do we tell the difference?! That’s a GREAT question, and the answer is super easy…no, not easy, I meant extremely difficult and convoluted and many people have said contradicting things about them. It would be an oversimplification to try and describe them here but oh well, here goes. Chalcedony is a top of Quartz and agates are a form of Chalcedony, typically with banding. And agates tend to grow within or on other existing stones (that’s why you’ll see bands of agates within geodes and under crystalline quartz). Types of Onyx are ALSO forms of Chalcedony. Confused yet? Yeah, us too. Agates tend to have curved or angular bands whereas Onyx will have parallel ones.

Anyway, Sardonyx has been used as a stone of strength and protection since ancient times. Darker stones such as this are most commonly used for protection and this one in particular is associated with courage. It can also bring lasting happiness and stability to marriage and partnerships.