Polly Ann Dennis age11 of Seattle,Wash.

Where is agate found?

Agate is made from seeping water from the mineral silica. The best agate forms in the cracks and crevices of basaltic lava rocks. Through oountl ess ages, the saturated silica is tinted with first ore impurity, then another. As the water dries out, the solid silica is left. The handsome stone is built up in colored layers or, best of all, in colored circles one inside another.

For generations, Germany has been the center of the cutting and setting of semi‑precious agates. At first, native agates from nearby lava rocks were used. As the supply was used up, agates were brought from Brazil and the United States. Today, the best agates come from Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Very handsome agates are also found in the lava rocks of western United States.