Editing Agate (section)

=== Europe ===
* Agate was discovered in [[Sicily]] by the Greek scholar Theophrastus in 350 BC. At the time, Sicily was a colony of [[ancient Greece]]. The name "agate" comes from the Achates River, the Greek name for what is now known as the [[Dirillo|Dirillo River]]. Agates in Sicily formed in balsaltic lavas and pyroclastic rocks of the [[Pliocene|Pilocene]] epoch.
* [[Germany]] is a well-known historic source of agate. Agates mined from volcanic rock of the Permian period have been processed in [[Idar-Oberstein]] since at least 1375, but possibly as early as the [[Roman Empire]]. Agates from the Idar-Oberstein area are often red and pink, but other colors have also been observed. Many museum specimens include features such as eyes, tubes, moss, plumes, and sagenite. 
* [[Scotland]] is an abundant source of a wide variety of agates. There are at least 50 main agate localities in Scotland. Scottish agates have been popular in jewelry for several hundred years, particularly during the [[Victorian era]]. They formed in two types of rock: andesite from the [[Early Devonian]] period and basalt from the [[Tertiary]] period. The andesite deposits are more significant and extend from [[Stonehaven]] in the northeast to just south of [[Ayr]] in the southwest. The basaltic agates are confined to the islands off the west coast of Scotland and are collectively called the ''Small Isles agates''. The colors of Scottish agates vary, and bands may be different shades of blue, grey, purple, pink, brown, orange, or red.
* ''Pot stones'' or ''potato stones'' are irregular agate nodules or geodes found in [[Bristol]] and [[Somerset]], England. They typically consist of a reddish, banded agate surrounding a hollow cavity lined with macroscopic quartz, although some are completely filled with agate. Other varieties of agate have also been found elsewhere in England.
* Agates can also be found in [[Wales]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Poland]], [[France]],<ref name="pabian" />{{rp|pp=52–75}} and many other European countries.<ref name="mindat" />
<gallery mode="packed" heights="130px">
Agate-MCG 91225-P4150832-white.jpg|German agate from Idar-Oberstein
Agate detail, Scotland 007 (cropped).jpg|Close-up of a Scottish agate from [[Ayrshire]]
Quartz-agate (12250382174).jpg|Potato stone from England
Agate from Czech Republic (7).jpg|Agate from Czech Republic
</gallery>