What is Moss Agate?
Moss Agate, sometimes called Ocean Grass Agate or Moss Chalcedony, is a natural gemstone variant of Chalcedony whose clouds and strings of internal color are typically yellow-green to deep green, deriving from mineral inclusions of Chlorite, Hornblende, and other materials. When these mineral inclusions oxidize or are mixed with other minerals such as Hematite, shades of brown, red, or bright yellow may become evident as well. Although Moss Agate may feature semi-translucent or opaque white Chalcedony, specimens with white and green coloration are usually referred to with the name Tree Agate. Medfordite is a synonym of Moss Agate, but is typically used only to refer to pieces originating near the Eagle Point region and exhibiting particularly strong contrast.
Meaning and Metaphysical Properties of Moss Agate
Moss Agate resonates with the Root Chakra and Heart Chakra, and has long been known as a crystal of spiritual healing, nature attunement, abundance, and emotional balance. The meaning of Moss Agate is steadiness and growth, since it is a stone deeply connected to the Earth element and grounding energies. Moss Agate is used by those seeking to remain strong and determined in the face of obstacles, people who want to prevent their emotional state from swaying their decision making, and those who wish to strengthen their awareness of opportunities. Use your Moss Agate stones in crystal grids for prosperity, stress relief, or emotional growth, and enjoy the calm, encouraging energies of this beautiful gemstone.
How to Cleanse Moss Agate
We always suggest using a Selenite tile or exposure to Full Moonlight when charging or cleansing crystals, as these methods won't cause any damage to your gemstones. Smoke Cleansing with Sage, Palo Santo, Incense, or dried herbs is another safe way to spiritually cleanse your Moss Agate stone.
Moss Agate has a Mohs hardness ranging from 2 - 7, depending on the rate of encapsulation and the minerals within the gem. You may think that this range is extremely wide, and that's true! Chlorite, which is present in many Moss Agate stones, has a Mohs hardness of 2 - 2.5, while Hornblende has a hardness of 5 - 6, and Chalcedony has a Mohs hardness of 6.5 - 7. Since Moss Agate features all of these materials together, and because mineral inclusions are not always perfectly encapsulated within the Chalcedony, we do not advise water exposure for Moss Agate. A quick dunk or wiping with a wet cloth is harmless, but soaking for long periods may cause some of the mineral inclusions within your Moss Agate to soften, allowing for damage to the stone.